Providing each child with a quality education is one of society's most important jobs. What does that take?

Each community must express the will to ensure that educational excellence does happen. Berkeley residents have, consistently, expressed that will: at the ballot box, in the classroom, and through their support of the Berkeley Public Education Foundation.

Once the community's commitment is there it takes communication, creativity, wisdom, and boundless energy. This is what the Foundation has provided, in ever increasing amounts, since its founding.

"The Foundation has helped make our visions happen," says former Superintendent Jack McLaughlin.

• A Brief History
• Projects
• Financial Reports
• Contacts (Board of Directors and staff)

In 1983, as Proposition 13 was just beginning to be felt in classrooms throughout the state, a group of parents and community leaders established the Berkeley Public Education Foundation with the stated mission of "restoring excellence in Berkeley public schools."

With a volunteer Executive Director and a dedicated Board, the Foundation started small but through the years has galvanized both financial resources and the energy of our community to improve educational opportunity for students at all of Berkeley's 17 schools.

Today, the Foundation is staffed by an Executive Director, a Finance and Grants Manager, a Director of Berkeley School Volunteers, and a Program Assistant. All programs are under the Board's direction.

In addition to our core programs of Classroom Grants to Teachers and Berkeley School Volunteers, special projects over the years include:

Financial Reports

The Foundation's financial reports are scrutinized monthly by the Finance Committee, and reviewed quarterly by the full board. Every effort is made to put each donor dollar to the best possible use. With generous in-kind contributions from the Berkeley Unified School District and many local businesses, and a part-time staff, in its most recent fiscal year the Foundation delivered 91% of every donated dollar straight into our schools.

Contacts

Staff

Molly Fraker, Executive Director
Michelle Khazai, Director, Berkeley School Volunteers
Diane Dew, Finance and Grants Manager
Jill Coffey, Program Assistant

1835 Allston Way, Berkeley CA 94703
510/644-6244
fax 644-4865
bpef@berkeley.k12.ca.us
www.bpef-online.org

Calvin Eng , Chair - Chief Financial Officer, Cal Performances.
Laurie Capitelli Vice Chair - Realtor, Red Oak Realty. Past President, Berkeley Board of Realtors; Vice President, Elmwood Theater Foundation; Chair, Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board; former Chair, Berkeley Planning Commission.
Judith Lubman Treasurer - President (retired), Lubman & Company; Board member, Berkeley Public Library Foundation.
Karen McKie Secretary - Educator and artist; member, Berkeley Art Commission and Berkeley Arts Education Steering Committee.
Marian Altman - Principal of Jefferson Elementary, a California Distinguished School (retired after 32 years of service as teacher, director, advisor and principal).
Mary Friedman - Founding Executive Director, emerita, Berkeley Public Education Foundation (retired);Board member, Berkeley/Albany YMCA.
Marisita Rivas-Jarvis - Economist and educator. Coordinator, Academic Pathways Project, Berkeley High School; Urban Plan Project Director, ULI, San Francisco District Council; Treasurer, Berkeley High School Development Group; Advisory Board Member, Berkeley High School Health Center; Member, IAP Selection Committee, UC Berkeley.
Emmett Jones - Director of Health & Human Services, City of Berkeley (retired). Board member, Berkeley Biotechnical Educational Institute.
Ron Kemper - Director of Business Development, Mills Peninsula Health Services. Berkeley School Board (1986-90).
Chuck Miller - Civil rights trial attorney, Miller, Clark, Calvert & Obenour. Founding member and past Chair of Board of Directors, Berkeley Public Education Foundation. Chair, Berkeley Community Media; Board member, New School of Berkeley Preschool.
Carol Olson - Retired after 33 years of teaching in Berkeley elementary schools; Instructor, Developmental Teacher Education program at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education; former Board member, In Dulci Jubilo.
María Lucero Padilla - Assistant Director, Academic Achievement Programs, University of California, Berkeley. Vice President, West Berkeley Foundation; Member, Berkeley Public Library Foundation.
Beebo Turman - Art, gardening, and preschool teacher; Project Director, Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative; co-founder of the Edible Schoolyard at King Middle School; Recycling Coordinator for the Berkeley Unified School District 1997-2002; member, BUSD Child Nutrition Advisory Committee 1998-2005.
Rebecca Wheat - Retired from Berkeley Unified School District with service including Principal of Early Childhood Education Program and Rosa Parks Elementary School. Instructor on early childhood education principal leadership at San Francisco State University, and consultant to Berkeley Unified School District.