It happens every year, at least for the past 21 years, without a
whole lot of fanfare but with a whole lot of impact where it
counts, at the individual school sites in the Morgan Hill School
District.
It happens every year, at least for the past 21 years, without a whole lot of fanfare but with a whole lot of impact where it counts, at the individual school sites in the Morgan Hill School District. Once again, the Live Oak Foundation pours funds in the form of grants for specific purposes into our public schools. Like the Eveready battery bunny, the foundation just keeps on going, raising money that goes directly into the school sites based on requests from teachers.
This year, the foundation board handed out $19,069, plus an additional $3,600 in the form of $75 classroom supply grants for the district’s 48 new teachers.
Since its inception in 1981, the foundation has been working quietly but steadily to raise funds for these grants. One of its most popular fundraisers, the annual wine tour and dinner held in the fall, regularly sells out. Many of the district’s Home and School Clubs have a contribution to the foundation as a line item of their annual budget. It is an established means of support for our students and teachers, with over $475,000 in grants distributed over the years.
We gratefully applaud the efforts of the foundation, its board and all who participate in its fundraising efforts, for this advocacy of education. Foundation President George Thomas, who keeps the organization ticking, has a family history of involvement in education: His father served on the School Board, his mother was a long-time counselor at Live Oak High, and now his wife, Shelle, is vice president of the current School Board. Those involved with the foundation donate their time and money because of their belief in the public school system and their desire to help.
An organization such as the Live Oak Foundation strengthens the fabric of the community we all are a part of.
To maintain the strength of the fabric, support the efforts of the foundation. Watch for notices of upcoming events – fun ways to support our schools – but also feel free just to make a donation. Your money will go directly to the benefit of our students.
As an example, Britton Middle School and Burnett Elementary both received $500 grants for their libraries, the new Sobrato High will share a $2,200 grant with Live Oak High for career exploration, elementary schools received grants for computer software for the students, for tools for teaching math, for books and other programs, and Martin Murphy Middle received $1,000 for sets of classroom novels and $1,000 towards the purchase of stereo microscopes.
