Ainsworth Foundation Preserving academic excellence

Hello-

The next Ainsworth Foundation Board meeting is at 8:15 am on Wednesday, November 2nd in the teacher’s lounge. Everyone is welcome. The Foundation is a parent run non-profit which raises money to pay for more teachers at Ainsworth. Please come to find out what our goals are for this year and learn how you can help.

Thanks!

AINSWORTH WILL HAVE ART NEXT YEAR! As a result of the amazing outpouring of support, The Ainsworth Foundation raised the $57,000 needed to pay for the school’s wonderful art program for the next school year. Thank you to everyone who donated their time, energy and/or money. This truly was a community-wide effort. And a special thank you to all the students who helped raise funds, especially the fifth graders at last Saturday’s bake sale — theirs was a wonderful parting gift to the school.

To summarize how we got here: at the beginning of the school year, the Foundation estimated that it would need to raise close to $300,000 to maintain appropriate staffing to keep specials. As of the beginning of May, we had raised roughly $250,000. When the school budget came out, we learned that we would have to beat our original goal by a few thousand in order to keep art. In less than one month, the school rallied and raised the funds, once again showing how much this community cares about its school.

Hello,

We are almost there! Three weeks ago the Ainsworth Foundation reported that it needed to raise an additional $57,000 by June 15 in order to keep our beloved art program. Through the hard work and generosity of our great school community, we have thus far raised close to $52,000 — thanks to everyone. The Foundation would especially like to thank the many children who have held bake sales and other fundraising activities, all of which have collectively raised over $1,000. If you haven’t had a chance to taste the yummy treats that the kids have been making, the fifth grade is holding a bake sale on the front yard Saturday June 4. Although the fifth graders will be in middle school next year, they enjoyed the art program so much that they want to make sure the younger children have the same experience. Please stop by and support these great students who love their school and love art.

The response to this campaign has been tremendous. Nearly 67% of the community has participated. We understand that not everyone can donate the same amount, but please donate what you can. No amount is too small, and to raise the last $5,000, we need 100% participation. Please remember, all funds raised by the Foundation for this campaign will go straight to saving art.

THANK YOU to everyone who has donated time or money to make our school stronger.

The Campaign to Save Art is in full swing. Here is another way to keep ART for our children: CORPORATE MATCHING. Any direct donation to the Foundation and any Raise the Paddle donation at Red Ball is eligible for corporate matching.

Does your company match charitable donations? Does your spouse’s? You can INCREASE the impact of your donation through corporate matching! Many local businesses match employees’ charitable donations: Nike, Intel, Tektronics, US Bancorp, and Mentor Graphics, to name a few.

For Nike employees, visit the WE Portal (on the Nike zero site) and give money to the Ainsworth Foundation there. Nike will match up to $500 per quarter. The current quarter ends May 31, so you can give before May 31 and after and Nike will match both! Nike employees say that it is very easy to use the system and takes just five minutes even if you don’t have an account set up!

Intel matches donations to the Ainsworth Foundation at 50%. Intel employees can request a match by going to https://www.easymatch.com/intel. Click on the link “Submit a New Request” and follow the directions.

For others, we urge you to check with your employer for corporate matching.

TOGETHER, we can save art!

The current Portland Public Schools budget has been released. We now know that the Foundation money raised and the PPS budget allocation is not enough to keep our wonderful Art program. To save Art, we must raise an additional $57,000 by June 15, 2011. If you have not donated yet, or can donate more, please do so now.

Please write a check or donate here using Paypal.

Any amount will help us get closer to our goal.