PEF Presents $3,302,000 Check to PUSD for 2023-2024 School Year and Kicks off Giving Campaign

The Giving Campaign aims to raise $3.5 million to minimize next year’s school funding gap

The Piedmont Education Foundation (PEF) presented a check for $3,302,000 to the Board of Education for the Piedmont Unified School District (PUSD) at the board’s regularly scheduled meeting on September 13, 2023.

These funds are the culmination of PEF’s fundraising campaigns from the 2022-2023 school year, most notably through the Giving Campaign. “”We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community,” said Tonya Antonucci, Chair of the PEF Board of Directors. “Once again, Piedmont has shown its commitment to our schools and our students.”

1,120 families contributed to the 2022-2023 Giving Campaign with an average gift of $2,891. 77% of granted funds will go towards certificated staff salaries. 7.7% for wellness and college and career development, 3.5% for classified salaries, 3.4% for professional development, 2.3% for classroom supplies, and 6% for curriculum development, DEI and athletics.

“We are thankful for the hard work of our Giving Campaign chairs, Dana Murray, Julia Ruthven, Katie Sharafi, and to the whole Giving Campaign team for their success,” said Heather Frank, Executive Director of PEF. “They really brought our community together to share the importance of giving to our schools.”

“These funds were raised with a ton of hard work, and it is thanks to this incredible community that we live in, that we can raise this money. That is why we are all grateful to live here.” said Chad Olcott, Vice Chair of the PEF Board of Directors.

This year’s campaign launched September 19th.

This year’s Giving Campaign committee, headed by co-chairs, Kim Hunter and Catie Osborn, celebrated launch day with a purple haze around town. The community was encouraged to get in the spirit by wearing purple and joining in an after school popsicle celebration in Piedmont Park. PEF also hosted a New Parent Reception on Tuesday evening for new families to meet one another.

This year PEF aims to raise $3.5 million for PUSD to support student success and provide a top-quality education for all PUSD students. The funds raised by the Giving Campaign help keep Piedmont class sizes small and fund a broad array of student needs, from classroom support and wellness to libraries and arts. These resources help set Piedmont schools apart, and motivate families to choose to make our community their home. Because of the support from our community, Piedmont schools rank among the top public schools in California.