Anyone interested in supporting education at San Benito High
School is invited to attend an informational meeting about the
formation of an education foundation.
Community members are in the beginning stages of starting a
foundation that would benefit the SBHS District, and are looking
for input from the community and for people to serve on a steering
committee. The meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA.
Anyone interested in supporting education at San Benito High School is invited to attend an informational meeting about the formation of an education foundation.
Community members are in the beginning stages of starting a foundation that would benefit the SBHS District, and are looking for input from the community and for people to serve on a steering committee. The meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday at the YMCA.
The intent of the foundation is to assist the many programs within the San Benito High School District, said community member Ray Rodriguez who is spearheading the foundation.
“The goal is to enhance the educational experience or environment kids are in,” he said.
At the meeting Gary Byrne, executive director of the Community Foundation of San Benito County, will be on hand for information and to give guidance. SBHSD Trustee Judith Rider will give information on an older, now-defunct agency, the Baler Foundation – its history, why it disbanded and the funds in its leftover account. Steve DeLay, director of finance and operations at the SBHSD, will also attend the meeting for anyone who has questions about SBHS or its financial needs.
“It’s important for the community to understand that this entity is on its own. That’s why we’re holding the meeting at the YMCA,” Rodriguez said.
Administrators from the SBHSD are only offering information about the district and its services. The foundation would be controlled by the community with suggestions on areas of need from school staff.
In the beginning, the education foundation will probably be under the umbrella of Community Foundation until it receives non-profit status, Rodriguez said.
To get going, the education foundation will need a mission, vision, bylaws, tax status, name and steering committee.
One of the main benefits of a foundation is to allow people to restrict where their donation goes. Also, donations would be tax-deductible, unlike a donation directly to the school, Rodriguez said.
In the future, Rodriguez also hopes to tie the foundation to alumni from the high school, especially since there are so many still living in the area. Many people donate to their college and not their high school, he said.
Possible areas of benefit include infrastructure, visual and performing arts, athletics, vocational and agricultural programs, special education and facilities.
People from SBHS’s various booster organizations are also invited to the meeting. Rodriguez stressed that the foundation would not compete with their fund-raising efforts. The foundation would be more of an avenue for donations, not fund raising, he said.
The meeting will be Thursday at 6 p.m. at the YMCA meeting room, 339 Fifth St.
Anyone who has input or is interested in serving on the steering committee or being a part of the foundation, can call Rodriguez at 636-9520 in the evenings or e-mail him at [email protected].
