Partnering with the Lake Washington Schools Foundation has truly been such an incredible experience! It's obvious that the staff are engaged, passionate and connected to the work that they do. The LWSF goes beyond and ensures that equity is at the center of everything they do. I have loved learning about the different programs they have. I look forward to many more years of being in awe of this organization. Thankful for all that they do.
I began volunteering with the Lake Washington Schools Foundation in 2016. I am an independent college counselor who is bothered by the inequity in education. I am a first-generation student myself (although that title wasn't around when I went to college) and see first-hand how students with means have advantages over other students. I created the Find Your Fit program which offers college support for students and parents. Each year, I put on workshops and webinars on a variety of topics from understanding the college process, alternative paths after high school, and how to write college essays. The Foundation's board and staff are dedicated to academic access and the mental health needs of our community. I could not offer the programs I do without the support of the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. The Foundation is very thoughtful in its actions; I have a great deal of respect for the LWSF.
Partnering with LWSF afforded many young readers across LWSD the opportunity to participate in the Amazing Reading Challenge. Centering equity, supporting student engagement, and fostering the love of reading are all important to this organization as evidenced by their generous contribution. We look forward to continuing our work with LWSF!
As a parent in this wonderful community, I have seen firsthand the incredible impact this Foundation has on our schools and, most importantly, on our children's education. From providing grants for our school libraries, to supporting parents and teachers with mental health training, to funding scholarships to summer school, they have played a pivotal role in enriching our children's lives. Thank you, LWSF!
The Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) does so much to support students, teachers and parents in the Lake Washington School District! I am proud to serve on the board alongside our incredible staff and parent volunteers who manage programs like Pantry Packs, Kids Coming Together and Find Your Fit. Students also benefit from our Links mentoring program which provides kids with one on one attentions and support. We know that students are experiencing extreme mental health challenges post the pandemic and so working with community organizations to help identify ways for staff and teachers to respond before a mental health crisis ensues is a huge priority for the LWSF. I'm also very excited about the Foundation providing schools with funding for team-based literacy challenges. The LWSF works hard alongside the school district to fill gaps and help create opportunities for ALL students to grow and succeed. Together with the LWSF, I'm All In For Kids!
I am honored to have worked with LWSF over the past six years in various capacities. As a former staff member, I've seen from the inside just how passionate and committed the staff, volunteers, and board are to LWSF's mission. This is a well-managed and impact-driven organization dedicated to improving the lives of students in the Lake Washington School District through a variety of methodologies, but always with the support and engagement of district administrators.
Just recently, I had the joy of visiting the library of Rose Hill Elementary School, where I met with librarian Debbie Conklin, who invited me to preview 117 brand-new books funded by LWSF's Inclusive Libraries grant. This five-year, $200,000 grant aligns with the district’s efforts to increase the diversity of school library collections across the district. With this grant, which is available to every school-based library in the district, LWSF hopes that every student will be able to see themselves and their peers represented in more inclusive and expanded library collections.
I first learned about LWSF when my daughters were in middle school and started to participate in Battle of the Books. Then I started noticing the multiple programs and initiatives LWSF offered for the district from supporting food insecurity, addressing mental health, creating connections for students and so much more. I recently joined the Board because I was passionate about making a difference in the community and I have greatly enjoyed getting to know the whole team at LWSF and witness their passion, commitment and strong bonds with the district. I look forward to supporting and growing the impact of this impressive organization!
As a former school board director in the Lake Washington School District with more than 30 years in the education sector, I am a long time donor to the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. My current work with equity in education communication is generously supported by LWSF , the city of Redmond and the city of Kirkland. We publish weekly videos on LWSD education information to hundreds of families who speak Spanish in our district. Our video broadcasters are respected members of the community from Central and South America who provide cultural relevance on information we publish and also explain how the American education system works. Parent learn how to support their child's education and are given resources/tools to navigate the system. This vital work would not happen without grants from LWSF to help cover our costs and their assistance in promoting our videos to reach an ever increasing number of families.
See our productions on the LWSF FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100064984830096/search/?q=noticias%20en%20espanol
Katy Philips and her team work tirelessly to ensure students in LWSD have the supports they need to be successful in school. Supports that are not fully funded by the state. We have a first rate school district and LWSF helps make it possible.
Cassandra Sage
I serve as a Family Engagement and Community Outreach Coordinator within the Lake Washington School district, and I have had the privilege of partnering with the Lake Washington Schools Foundation to support students and their families. The foundation has helped our Equity and Family Engagement department alleviate barriers that often prevent our students and their families from thriving. The foundation has been very intentional about learning and supporting the needs of students and their families. The foundation does an immense amount of impactful work. On top of the programs that they facilitate which support students, the foundation provides support to programs that are also supporting students and their families. For instance, the foundation donated $167,314 to the LWSD Families Helping Families food voucher program. This program is purposed to tackle the rising food insecurity that some students and their families face. Families are provided with a food voucher during 5 annual school breaks. Without the foundations generous donation, the Families Helping Families food voucher program would not have been able to continue (as the program solely relies on community donations). Another program that the foundation has made possible through their support-- is a scholarship program for graduating seniors who participate in an annual student conference that my department hosts. The scholarship is purposed to help students eliminate some of the financial barriers as they transition to college. Whether its food insecurity, support for student's transition to college, grants to help students pay their library fines, mental health supports, support to create more inclusive libraries, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation has showed up to support. As a LWSD staff and parent, I am grateful for the work that the foundation is doing. Please continue to support the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, as their work is truly making a difference in the lives of students and their families!
I am a parent of Lake Washington School District. I am amazed with the volume of work LWSF does for the schools in LWSD district. I also volunteer for the schools, so I get to have first hand experience of the work done by LWSF. My favorite ones are Amazing Reading Challenge, Battle of Books-Middle Schools, Inclusive libraries , Balance in Mind and Kids Coming Together. I like all the work done by them and they have such an impact on the community. I value their partnership with LWSD schools immensely. Because of the volume of work done by them and having personally seen the outcomes of their programs, I do not hesitate to donate and contribute as I am assured where and how my bucks are being used. I also attend their (LWSF's- Be the Bridge Spring Benefit event) and got chance to hear from students and school staff who got benefited from the LWSF's programs. I will continue to support LWSF as I believe in their vision and mission.