Science and Technology become new focus for non-profit that has supported fitness & arts programs
By Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com
The Glendale Educational Foundation hosted its 10th annual “State of the Schools” breakfast Thursday morning, where organizers announced a new focus on raising money to support science and technology programs.
In the decade the foundation has operated, it has donated $2.5 million to Glendale schools to support health, fitness and the arts. The annual breakfast event highlights students’ accomplishments as well as community donors’ gift giving to extracurricular programs such as in the arts, music and elsewhere.
“This is to make sure we meet our motto of every school, every student,” said Lynn Miyamoto, president of the foundation.
Glendale Unified Supt. Dick Sheehan addressed hundreds of business leaders, community members and educators in attendance Thursday at the Pacific Community Center and said it was “truly an honor” to work in a district with such significant community support.
An elementary age orchestra performed for the crowd on string instruments that had been paid for by the foundation.
Later, Clark Magnet High School student Mika Stanghill shared what she learned while participating in the school’s robotics program.
“Without robotics, I would have never found my love in engineering or programming…I’m really thankful that right now, I can confidently say that I want to become a bioengineer.”
Under the foundation’s new science and technology focus, a program given out to those who attended suggested that a $100 donation could purchase a robot-building kit for two high school students.
A $1,000 donation could provide a classroom with a kit that would teach students how to build a robot they could enter into competitions. A $20,000 donation could pay for the registration, kids and team regalia for 32 high school students.
In recent years, robotics programs in Glendale have been a growing focus for both educators and students, and, they exist at all four middle schools and two high schools.
Miyamoto pushed for ongoing donations for the foundation’s new campaign.
“Imagine what would it be like to have all of our students graduate from GUSD and know you were part of their learning experience to become the next generation of innovators, collaborators and creative forces in both the public and private sector?” she asked.
Source: Glendale News-Press
