Schools Foundation to Celebrate Local Education at Mardi Gras Business Breakfast

The Enumclaw Schools Foundation (ESF) will be hosting its first Mardi Gras Business and Community Benefit Breakfast this coming Tuesday, March 8 at the .

“One key goal of the event is to heighten awareness within the business and broader community about the difference a foundation can make on improving education,” said Nancy Merrill, president of the ESF board, who is also an ESF Enumclaw community representative and Enumclaw School Board member. 

The event will include jazz played by the Enumclaw High School jazz band, a complimentary breakfast served by PTA members of the five elementary schools within the school district as well as guest speakers, which include Merrill, Bob Horn, from Mutual of Enumclaw and Sara Davis, a teacher at Black Diamond Elementary School and ESF grant recipient, said Johna Thomson, ESF Black Diamond community representative.

“We’re expecting about 200 guests at the breakfast on Tuesday,” said Thomson. “Guests are made up of business people, elected officials and members of the communities from both Black Diamond and Enumclaw.”

How it all Started

In 2004, a small group of district staff and community advocates started the foundation. The foundation worked as a start-up nonprofit under the Enumclaw Chamber’s Enumclaw Community Enhancement Foundation, according to the Enumclaw Schools Foundation website.

The mission of the foundation is, “to enhance education opportunities from students of the Enumclaw School District.” Their board of directors includes not only district employees but community members as well.

“The foundation has been many years in the process,” said Mike Nelson, Enumclaw School District superintendent. “One of the key components (of the foundation) is having a strong group of people coming together to support 4,200 kids.”

In 2005, the foundation had its first fundraiser, the Finisterra and the Enumclaw Schools String Program benefit concert. The proceeds benefitted the Strings Program.

“It (the foundation) began as having conservations of how we can get this going,” said Nelson. “Now it is community-based working on behalf of the school district and I am really grateful for it.”

In June, ESF became recognized as a non-profit foundation.

The foundation supports two programs, the Full Day Kindergarten and Enrichment and Innovation Grants.

The Full Day Kindergarten offers scholarships for students to attend kindergarten. Since 2009, the FDK Committee has raised nearly $70,000, and 58 boys and girls have received scholarships in the last two school years. This program benefits from the generosity of the larger Enumclaw community, including the Enumclaw Rotary Club which has donated more than $10,000 over the past two years.

The Enrichment and Innovation Grants gave teachers grants to fund five creative ideas for teaching reading and writing skills throughout the district. In 2010, ESF received more than $3,700 in grants through the United Way workplace giving campaign.  

“I think the foundation is incredibly well received and many people want and desired to have a very strong public school system,” said Nelson.

The Mardi Gras Business and Community Benefit Breakfast takes place at the Expo Center Field House (Pete’s Pool) Tuesday, March 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Click here for more information.  

Coming Up

ESF will be hosting a Full Day Kindergarten Fundraiser on Saturday, April 16.

Last year, community members raised $75,000 to fund 30 scholarships for local kids. More information will be forthcoming regarding this event. Click here for more details.