Giving the Gift of an Excellent Education

Give the gift of an excellent education to our students by making your tax-deductible donation to the Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF) today. Thanks to the funds raised by WCEF, your child’s educational experience is enriched from the first day of kindergarten until their high school graduation, and our outstanding schools continue to distinguish Walnut Creek as an ideal place to raise a family.

WCEF has raised $659,900 toward our 2010 - 2011 campaign goal.  This includes $576,000 from parent and community donations, $67,400 in corporate matching gifts and $15,900 in funds raised from business and events.

While we can feel good about the substantial funds raised thus far, we are still $90,100 away from our funded commitments of $750,000 to both the Walnut Creek School District and Las Lomas High School (AHUSD).

I am certain that this goal can be achieved if the families who have not yet given make their donation. Together we can ensure that the programs and personnel the Foundation funds will be in place for the remainder of the school year.

On behalf of the Walnut Creek Education Foundation Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your support.

Happy Holidays,
 
Mary Vanderpan
WCEF President

If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now...

How many times have you reflected on that old saying when it came to the well being and success of your child?

My name is Kelly Hendricks. Just like you, I live in the Walnut Creek School District and am a parent of three children aged 19, 16 and 8. When my oldest child began his education as a kindergartner at Indian Valley, I expected all the basics to be available so I was rather surprised and perhaps even a little annoyed when I was asked to donate funds to both the elementary school as well as the Walnut Creek Education Foundation (WCEF). For the first several years, I tossed away those requests from WCEF thinking there was no real benefit to my child. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered how much I didn’t know…

Click here to read what Kelly discovered…

Calling All Business Owners

Do you own a business? Would you like the opportunity to bring more attention to it? WCEF is looking to connect with all our school families who own businesses in Walnut Creek and the surrounding vicinity.

One of the objectives of the WCEF Business Program is to provide opportunities for local family-owned businesses and WCEF to work together to foster mutually beneficial relationships. WCEF wants to ensure that the generous commitment so many of our family-owned businesses make to our schools makes a difference to their businesses as well.

Business owners are cordially invited to the first WCEF Business Mixer on January 26, 2011 from 5-7 PM in the Oak View Room at the Downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Click here for more information and to register for this great event.

A Great Time Was Had by All

This Fall WCEF hosted several events to help raise additional dollars towards our fundraising goal. These events included:

• The opening of the new International House of Pancakes ($982)
• The Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association’s Fall Wine Walk ($1320)
• Our third annual “Taste for Education” hosted by Wine Thieves at The Gardens at Heather Farm ($4995).
• On Thanksgiving Day, WCEF partnered with the Walnut Creek Sport and Fitness for the 18th Annual Turkey Trot. Over 3,000 runners and 175 volunteers took part in this great event to promote healthy lifestyles for our students and families. We are waiting to hear how much money was raised and will forward that information on to our community when it becomes available.
• Our Sports Basement shopping party in early December was a great success, raising $1200.

Support WCEF at these
Upcoming Events

Annual Tree Lot Honey Bear Trees is once again donating 20% of your purchase to WCEF. The Tree lot is located at the corner of Deer Hill Rd. and Pleasant Hill Rd. across from Acalanes High School in Lafayette. Open 7 days a week 9:00am to 9:00pm 11/23/10 to 12/24/10 - Click here for a flyer.

WCEF Night at the Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Friday, January 7, 7:30 p.m. – A perfect stocking stuffer for the whole family! Please follow this link to purchase tickets.

Carlos Reyes Benefit Concert Save the date for An Evening with Carlos Reyes March 26, 2011. You don’t want to miss this incredible evening of music in support of our students. Stay tuned for ticket sale release date.

Thursday Night Out! Tired of cooking dinner? Want to raise money for our schools? It’s easy with Thursday Night Out! Just eat at a participating restaurant (on Thursday night, of course) and tell them you “Support WCEF.” You’ll have a great meal and 10-15% of your tab will be donated back to WCEF. What could be easier? Don’t forget to tell you neighbors, friends and family too! Click here for a list of participating restaurants

WCEF • P.O. Box 186 • Walnut Creek, CA 94597