19 Mar Update on Foundation Activities RE COVID-19 and How You Can Help 03/17
Update on Foundation Activities RE COVID-19 and How You Can Help 03/17
First and foremost, our thoughts are with you. We hope you and your family are healthy, safe and sane during this odd time.
All of us are facing a lot of unknowns right now, and that’s hard for us and hard for our kids. But, I wanted to let you know that the Foundation stands ready to help, even though we don’t exactly know what that’s going to look like going forward.
The Northshore Schools Foundation is in this for the long run.
All In for Kids Breakfast/ Lunch & Virtual Event Cancelled
We have made the decision to CANCEL our Spring All in for Kids Events Breakfast & Lunch. We originally thought we would take the breakfast and lunch virtual because it serves as the PRIMARY fundraiser for all the grants and funding that the Foundation provides every year. In these evolving times, we think our attention should be on how we can help our community rather than how they can help us.
However, if you are so inclined to help financially today, your donation will be put to best use to ensure that we are ready to support our students and teachers when we return to the classroom.
We are actually pivoting to address the issues at hand by mobilizing two funds that are most relevant at the moment.
We have launched our Community & District Response Fund which was established to collect and distribute funds in times of need. Because things constantly change and evolve, this crisis response fund is flexible. Currently, the proceeds of this fund are directed to help with childcare expenses, teacher training, cleaning, etc.
Because this fund was in place, and because of your support to help fund our removing barriers initiative, when the District asked for help, we were able to say yes. The Northshore Schools Foundation committed $20,000 to help offset the cost of child care for families who need it most. The extended closures have made that an even larger task with the need estimated at at least three times that.
To support students and teachers through the Community & District Response Fund donate here: https://northshoreschoolsfoundation.kindful.com/?campaign=295402.
Helping Families in Crisis
It is becoming more clear every day that there are going to be far-reaching economic ramifications that affect our families as a result of these extended closures. Our Basic Needs Aid Fund has been helping families deal with unexpected circumstances for the last 2 years. This last week alone, we have granted more funds than we did in 6 months last year.
We are incredibly grateful that donors like United Methodist Church, Evergreen Church, Woodinville Chamber, and Story Church and many individuals invested in our Removing Barriers Fund so that when families needed help, we were able to say yes. With need rising, we are hopeful we will have the resources to respond at a level that provides comfort and support for all our families who are experiencing need. To support our Removing Barriers initiative, donate here: https://northshoreschoolsfoundation.kindful.com/?campaign=334860
What’s Next
We’ll continue to work closely with the District’s leadership team to be sure we’re doing as much as we can to get support out to our teachers, kids, and families and communicate with you when we have more information.
Please reach out if you need help, can give help, or just want to say an encouraging word.
If you are a family who needs assistance with childcare, please ask your provider about scholarships, and have the provider contact us. If you have other needs, please connect with your office administrators or school counselors who can mobilize the resources we have in place.
Families who are in a position to give help please consider a best use donation or a donation to our Community & District Crisis Response Fund or Removing Barriers Fund. Or connect with me about what you would like to do, and we will help you do it.
Thank you
First of all, I am so incredibly grateful to the Northshore Schools Foundation Board for their leadership, forward-thinking and initiative that we are ready when our community needs us.
Second, there is a whole group of sponsors who committed to support the All In for Kids Breakfast and Lunch Events, who have maintained their support, even in the cancellation of the events. That support is huge to our ability to remain a viable organization at this time.
And last but not least, you. Thank you. It is an incredible honor to have your partnership and support as we navigate this unprecedented time. I hope more than anything you know that you have our support and we will do the best we can do to support you. Today and every day.
We are here. We are ready and if you can help us grow our resources, by sharing our work or adding your resources, we can be ready for what is next.
Thank you and hang in there.
Best,
Carmin Dalziel
Executive Director
Northshore Schools Foundation
Pronouns: she/her/hers
