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Category: our team
Gorjana Receives SchoolPower’s 2020 Hall of Fame Award
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, SchoolPower presented its top honor, “The Hall of Fame Award,” to gojana. Owned by LBUSD parents Gorjana and Jason Reidel, this company began supporting SchoolPower in 2014 when their son was in kindergarten. “When we saw the tremendous impact that SchoolPower had on our schools, we wanted to get involved,” says Jason Reidel. The Reidels went on to join the Board of Trustees, with Jason eventually serving as vice president of the executive board and Gorjana chairing the annual dinner dance. “We wanted to make a positive impact on all the children in this [...]
Kendall and Chris Clark Receive SchoolPower’s 2020 Bill Steel Award
On Sunday, May 31, 2020, SchoolPower presented “The Bill Steel Award,” its annual recognition of exceptional volunteerism, to Kendall and Chris Clark. The Clarks have been passionate, unwavering supporters of SchoolPower for 23 years. In 1997, their neighbor invited them to become SchoolPower trustees, prompting them to make an usual decision--to join before their children had even entered Laguna Beach Schools. “Chris and I looked down at our 3 kids aged 4, 2 and 6 months and wondered, isn’t it a little early for us to get involved?,” says Kendall. “But Chris said it was precisely the time to get [...]
Listening & Learning
During these times, I’ve struggled with what to say. Sometimes I wish things would go back to “normal,” but the current protests remind me that “normal” was not comfortable for many. As I prepare for another year in my position at SchoolPower, I am reading, listening, learning and thinking. As a parent, I feel the weight of my duty to raise empathetic, compassionate global citizens, now more than ever. We have work to do as parents and within our schools to fight racism and unconscious bias that persist in our society. Last week, Superintendent Dr Viloria shared a few [...]
Hundreds Turn Out for SchoolPower’s Dodgeball X
More than 380 costumed players on 50 teams ducked, dived and dodged balls at LBHS on October 16 for SchoolPower’s 10th annual Dodgeball Tournament. Each champion team won $500 in prize money to designate to a teacher or school program of their choice. The event raised over $13,000 for SchoolPower! “The kids bring so much excitement and joy to the tournament,” explains Jeff Bhaedhayajibh, first-time coach of We Kick Balls. The popular event included students from all four local schools, teachers, PTA leaders and school staff, Laguna Beach firefighters, and local business supporters. Competition was fierce in all three [...]
Incredible Impact: Hexberg Family Foundation Over $330,000 to Athletics Funding in 9 Years
This year, funding from the Hexberg Family Foundation allowed LBHS Athletics to continue to provide and expand strength training for student athletes. Students flocked to the outdoor “muscle beach” weight stations, coached by a highly qualified staff. “The funded strength training staff has taken our strength program to the next level. Partnering with a trainer who thinks about our conditioning as their top priority has allowed us to run a much more detail-oriented program,” says Ethan Damato, Head Coach Boys & Girls Water Polo. Next year, the Hexberg Family Foundation will continue their support with a $50,000 grant, [...]
Hexberg Family Foundation Receives Hall of Fame Award
On Sunday, June 2, 2019, SchoolPower presented its top honor, “The Hall of Fame Award” (aka The Claes Award), to the Hexberg Family Foundation. The award was created in honor of Claes Andersen, owner of The Hotel Laguna and Claes Restaurant. Andersen opened his restaurant to SchoolPower back in 2001 and underwrote an annual dinner for seven consecutive years, in addition to other generous donations. The Andersen family contributions to SchoolPower totaled over $200,000. With the Andersens as the benchmark, this award is not given lightly. However, it would be hard to find a more deserving recipient than the Hexberg [...]
3 Clubs Barefoot Golf Tournament Is a Hole-in-One for Laguna Schools
Monday, May 13, marked the fourth annual 3 Clubs Barefoot Canyon Classic at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, benefiting SchoolPower. With the theme of “Peace, Love, & BBQ,” this sold-out event entertained golfers and non-golfers alike. Generously underwritten by The Ranch at Laguna Beach and Hobie, 100% of the over $60,000 raised will benefit our local Laguna Beach schools through SchoolPower. Seventy-six barefoot golfers kicked off the afternoon’s festivities with a friendly nine-hole, four-person scramble competition. As in past years, players tackled some nontraditional shots, including teeing off with a softball bat, driving with opposite-handed clubs, and the replacement [...]
Lumberyard Chef Challenge Dishes Up a Decade of Support For SchoolPower
On April 1 at the Lumberyard restaurant, Laguna school principals dueled as guest “chefs,” serving up competing three-course meals to a sellout crowd of SchoolPower supporters. No, it wasn’t an April Fools joke; it was the 10th year of the Lumberyard Chef Challenge, a beloved event that this year raised over $10,000 for SchoolPower. The event was conceived by Lumberyard owners Cary and Suzanne Redfearn. “It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years. Based loosely on reality cooking shows, it is a night of chef-inspired food along with the opportunity to mingle with the principals and other community [...]
Incredible Impact: Holly & Dave Wilson’s $1,000,000 to SchoolPower
During this year’s Dinner Dance, SchoolPower recognized the Wilson family for their unprecedented support over the past 38 years. Dave Wilson spoke about the importance of supporting all students in public schools and announced an additional gift to bring the Wilson’s lifetime support for SchoolPower to $1MM! The funds the Wilsons have infused into our schools will have an impact on students for years to come.
SchoolPower Executive Director Announces Departure
When her oldest son was in kindergarten, Robin Rounaghi started volunteering for SchoolPower, a foundation that has raised money for Laguna Beach public schools since 1981. Her son is now a college sophomore. After many years as a SchoolPower trustee, including two stints as president, and the last five years growing the organization as executive director, Rounaghi this week announced her exit from the organization this summer for family reasons. “It was beautiful to watch Robin be the caretaker and enabler of the goals and aspirations of the teachers, district leaders and parents. Robin has been a wonderful gift [...]
