What is the goal of the Foundation?

The CdM Foundation is dedicated to making an already outstanding school in terms of academics, extracurricular activities, and cultural interests, preeminent among the very best secondary schools in the nation. Our goal is to create a school that is a nationwide model of excellence and an example of what can happen when a dedicated educational staff joins with an involved and supportive community to make their students’ education needs the top priority.

Why Have an Annual Fundraising Campaign?

-  State funding does not cover the cost to operate and maintain Corona del Mar High School and Middle School at the level our parents expect.

-  California ranks dead last in class size

-  California has the highest average college counselor case load in the nation

-  California and the District do not have funds for new technology, projects, equipment or personnel that enrich academic and extracurricular programs

-  There are insufficient government funds to maintain the campus

-  As college entrance requirements rise, so do the expectations of our parents, and

-  Government funding falls dismally short of these growing expectations.

The CdM Foundation’s Annual Campaign has become a necessity, not an option. As parents, we simply cannot let our children be shorted the 21st century skills and resources necessary for academic, extracurricular, cultural and social success.

Why a Multi-Year Pledge?

A majority of the Foundation’s expenditures fund salaries that are under multiple year commitments and contracts. (guidance counselor, guidance technician, nurse, community service coordinator, computer technician, etc.)  Parents’ multi-year pledges permit us to better match our resources to fulfill these multi-year needs. We ask all parents to contribute via a multi-year pledge to support their children’s on-going educational needs. If you pledge a multi-year commitment when your student starts as a 7th grader, we ask you to give for only 4 years, not the 6 years your child will be in school. First, we view your commitment as a tremendous gift to the school, and we thank you, in part, by not asking for a contribution in your child’s final year.  Most funds raised go for programs that become implemented the following academic year after your child will have graduated. We want you to view your contributions as having an immediate and direct impact on your child’s education.

Is There Special Importance Given to this Annual Fundraising Campaign?

Yes! Our fall fundraising campaign typically accounts for more than 80% of our total annual fundraising dollar.  Last year, $600,000 of the $700,000 we raised came from our Annual Fundraising Campaign.  Neptune’s Ball, our annual dinner auction raised an additional $100,000.

Given the need to renovate the Quad, we have an ambitious goal of raising $1,000,000 in 2007/2008.

Further, for every family who doesn’t give we lose critical resources that could have been invested in valuable programs, personnel and technology.  Because your child will benefit directly, we urge you to make this your top personal philanthropic priority for the year. There are very few tax-deductible donations that directly benefit our own children and by participating (at any level of contribution you can afford), you help send a positive message to the entire community, as well as to our own children, that educating our children is the most important investment we can make. Please be a bit selfish with your charitable donation budget for the next few years and give to the Foundation for the benefit of your children.

What Has the Foundation Funded?

Since its inception in 1995, the Foundation has raised $6 millions and had funded the following capital improvements by the end of 1998:

• Painted the exterior of the entire school, redid the landscaping, resurfaced the parking lots, pressure washed the entire campus, repaired leaky roofs and renovated the Little Theater
• Removed 1,300 dilapidated lockers
• Purchased white boards and teacher tech stations for every teacher, purchased 400 new student desks, funded the Homework Hotline, put in network wiring, renovated the language labs, outfitted a digital arts lab and an exploratory technology lab and began paying for a computer technician on site
• Partnered with the track boosters to put in an all weather track instead of the lake that existed after any rain and built a chemistry lab to replace the one where nothing worked, including the eye wash and other safety requirements. 

After addressing the deferred maintenance (including the renovation of the Quad) and adding the new, state of the art technology, the Foundation focused most of its budget on adding people.  The Foundation is not permitted to fund teaching positions.  Over the years, the District recognized the benefit of some of the positions created and funded by the Foundation and similar positions were created at each of the high schools and middle schools and the District took over their funding at CdM.  The Foundation annual budget has also changed based on need, success of a position and whether qualified candidates could be found for a position.  Over the years, the Foundation has funded: 

The Foundation has continued to fund deferred maintenance and capital items in recent years such as:

What Does My Contribution Do for My 7th and 8th Grade Students?   She/He Is Not in High School Yet.

The following areas that have been funded by the CdM Foundation specifically benefit 7th and 8th grade students: 

• Science, English, Math, Social Studies, Music teaching assistants and clinics
• Staff Development and Technology Training
• Full-Time Nurse, Annette Dunn
• Counseling Office personnel, including a Guidance Technician to assist Guidance Counselors so Counselors have more time to counsel
• 7th Grade Mentor Program TGIF (Organized Through our Community Service Coordinator)
• Outfitted Dry Science Labs and provided Earth Science equipment
• Computer-Integrated Projectors
• Mac, PC & Tech Labs and Onsite Computer Technician
• Work Stations for Every Teacher
• Gymnasium (the foundation renovated the small gym frequented for use by CdM middle school and continues to resurface all the gyms)
• New Lockers
• Track and gymnasium improvements
• Middle school exploratory technology class

• Science, English, Math, Social Studies, Music teaching assistants and clinics
• Staff Development and Technology Training
• Full-Time Nurse, Annette Dunn
• Counseling Office personnel, including a Guidance Technician to assist Guidance Counselors so Counselors have more time to counsel
• 7th Grade Mentor Program TGIF (Organized Through our Community Service Coordinator)
• Outfitted Dry Science Labs and provided Earth Science equipment
• Computer-Integrated Projectors
• Mac, PC & Tech Labs and Onsite Computer Technician
• Work Stations for Every Teacher
• Gymnasium (the foundation renovated the small gym frequented for use by CdM middle school and continues to resurface all the gyms)
• New Lockers
• Track and gymnasium improvements
• Middle school exploratory technology class

As we move forward with the Technology Plan, there will be additional benefits for middle school students, including a pilot laptop program, internet cafes, and a state-of-the-art resource center.

Why Should I Make a Gift When I Do Not Agree with some of the School’s Policies and Actions?

Please do not withhold your contribution to the Foundation’s fundraising campaigns to “punish” the school. Your children will lose the benefits of the Foundation projects and personnel that cannot be paid for and, ultimately, no policies will be changed.  You can make a difference in the school’s policies and actions by participating in the PTA, Boosters and Foundation and by voicing your concerns with the appropriate party or through the principals, Ms. Fal Asrani, CdM High School Principal, or Mr. Guy Olguin, CdM Middle School Principal. They both have open-door policies and are eager to hear from all parents on any issue.  You also can make a significant positive difference by contributing to our annual giving and technology campaigns.

I Volunteer a Great Deal of Time to the School.  Am I Expected to Give Money Too?

Yes! We welcome and value both contributions of time and money. If you are fortunate enough to be able to devote time to our school, then you value and understand the school’s educational needs and the importance of raising additional funds for our school. We thank you in advance for both your generous contributions.

Do I Have To Make an Entire Gift Today?

No.  For the Foundation Annual Fundraising campaign, we prefer a multi-year pledge that, in effect, can be made in installments. Or, if you prefer, you can even make quarterly installments. We can even set up a pre-approved Visa or Mastercard charge if you prefer so you don’t miss out on travel awards etc.

What Is the Difference Between the Boosters Club and the Foundation?

The Booster Club supports the Four A’s, Academics, Arts, Activities, and Athletics, by providing small grants on a request basis.  Boosters accept requests for funding throughout the year based on funds donated during the current year.  The average Booster’s request is less than $2,000.  While the percentages distributed to each of the 4A’s vary from year to year, the Boosters try to set aside at least 30% of their donations for staff development and continuing education, key components to the continued success of CDM.  Boosters raise about $100,000 each year. Generally, about 70% of the funds raised by Boosters goes to current needs such as software licenses, targeted technology consistent with the technology plan, resource materials, special assemblies, registration fees, academic enrichment and athletic support.  The Boosters and the Foundation each have portions of the strategic plan to implement with the funds they raise.  It’s a great organization and we urge you to contribute to CdM Boosters in addition to the Foundation.

The CdM Foundation focuses on the academic, social, cultural and extracurricular needs of the schools over a multi-year planning horizon for which expenditures are in the tens of thousands to even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the past 10 years the Foundation has raised and invested over $6 million dollars in CdM.  The Foundation’s focus is on the academic and cultural life of the school including such things as college counselors, teachers’ aids, science and tech labs, deferred maintenance and new lockers.  This year we are focusing our efforts on a $400,000 Quad renovation plan in addition to our $400,000 commitment to a variety of staff positions and established programs.  Yes, that means we need to raise $1 million this year.  We have a good precedent for this level of fundraising.  $1 million was raised 10 years ago when the Foundation was first formed. To be successful we need EVERYONE’S participation. 

I Live In a Mello Roos Tax District. Aren’t I Already Contributing More Than Anyone Else?