Santa Monica Education Foundation Raises $213,000 In December

From the Santa Monica Education Foundation: 286 donors contributed $213,000 to the Santa Monica Education Foundation during a three-week, $25,000 matching opportunity offered by MSD Partners, L.P. / Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. The match ran from December 9 to 31 and coincided with the Ed Foundation’s campaign to raise $145,000 for STEM programs during the month of December.

“We are so thrilled with the results of this match!” said Linda Greenberg, Executive Director of
the Santa Monica Education Foundation. “STEM programs in our Santa Monica schools are so
important. In these classes, students design, invent and code. STEM prepares students for
technology-based careers they may enter after graduation. We are so grateful to MSD Partners,
L.P. and Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows for being an inspiring philanthropic leader in our
community and to each of the donors who contributed this month to fund these important
programs for Santa Monica students.”

This was the fourth consecutive year that MSD Partners, L.P. / Fairmont Miramar Hotel &
Bungalows offered a match for donations to the Ed Foundation. In total, their matches have
inspired more than $709,000 in contributions for programs in Santa Monica schools.

“MSD Partners and The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows are proud to be long-time
supporters of public education in Santa Monica,” said Ellis O’Connor of MSD Partners. “We are
honored to partner with the Ed Foundation and our entire local community to help ensure that
Santa Monica’s students experience the best education possible. The results of our matches
with the Ed Foundation have been astounding. They are a superb example of what is possible
when local businesses and families come together to support children.”

Donations made during this match will fund STEM programs in Santa Monica schools. Several
schools across the district use the grant they receive from Ed Foundation donations to fund
STEM programs at their campus. This year, these programs include STEM classes at Franklin,
Grant and Muir Elementary schools, an app design elective at John Adams Middle School and
Project Lead the Way, a four-year engineering program at Santa Monica High School.
In all of these programs, students experiment, explore and invent through hands-on activities.
Recently, Samohi Project Lead the Way students placed first for largest device at the 2019 Jet
Propulsion Laboratory Invention Challenge.

During the $25,000 match, two other businesses offered $2,500, one-day Flash Matches for
donations. SP+ Corporation matched $2,500 in donations on December 12 and VCA Animal
Hospitals matched donations on December 31.

Annual donations and Ed Foundation endowments are funding $2.7 million in programs in Santa
Monica schools this school year. Fundraising for 2020-2021 school-year programs will continue
through June 30, 2020.

MSD Partners L.P. / Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is also the sponsor hotel of the Ed
Foundation’s fifth annual Santa Monica Wine Auction, which will be held at the hotel on Sunday,
May 3. At this highly anticipated event, parents, community members and corporate supporters
enjoy outstanding wine and food tastings, and silent and live auctions of wines and experiences.
The previous Wine Auctions have raised a combined $992,000 for local public schools.
For more information or to make a donation to support Santa Monica students, go to
smedfoundation.org.