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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, [...]
Fund-a-Need Update: Navigating the Information Age
This fall, LBUSD hired a Digital Media and Library Specialist and two part-time teacher coaches to improve digital literacy and bring coding and computer science to our classrooms. Teachers Brian Kull and Carrie Denton have been active in the elementary classrooms, exposing kids to the basics of coding through hands-on activities as well as a block-based language that teaches the logic and foundations of Python. In high school, Stephanie Gamache works with students to help them develop strong research skills, including keyword search logic and database navigation.The $185,500 raised by SchoolPower at our annual Dinner Dance made it possible for [...]
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 [...]
Inspired Teachers Awarded $111,450
Great teachers inspire their students, but many times, teachers find themselves inspired by their students. Thurston Middle School Health and PE teacher and Ecology Club mentor Penny Herrick-Dressler is one teacher who recognized a need amongst her students and was inspired to act upon it. “The Healthy Kids Survey shows us that our student body is experiencing stress,” she explains. “That stress is negatively impacting other areas of their lives.” Through a discussion with her Ecology Club students, Herrick-Dressler developed the idea to create the "Away Place," an outdoor space on the Thurston campus where students can sit by themselves [...]
“Outside The Box” Is A Smash Success For Laguna Schools
SchoolPower, Laguna Beach’s Education Foundation, hosted its 34th Annual Dinner Dance Outside the Box on February 9 at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Chaired by Gorjana Reidel and Gina Alshuler, the event grossed over $330,000 for Laguna Beach schools. SchoolPower President Mike Houlahan welcomed over 300 guests, and announced that SchoolPower recently achieved the $500,000 fundraising goal of the Wave of Giving campaign that began in the Fall. Both attendees and supporters from home bid furiously on silent auction items, including a week-long stay in Deer Valley, a tour experience with the Dave Matthews Band, VIP passes to the Magic [...]
Fund-a-Need: Building Your Future Self
One hundred percent of the $175,850 raised at Dinner Dance 2019 will go toward this initiative, which includes curriculum and online resources related to strengths finding and career exploration, new high school classes focused on advanced research and business entrepreneurship, and a mentor program that involves strengths coaching and industry visits to connect students with professionals in the Laguna Beach community and beyond.
Building Your Future Self Fund-a-Need
Connecting students to their strengths, nurturing their interests and igniting their passions. One hundred percent of the $175,850 raised at Dinner Dance 2019 will go toward this initiative, which includes curriculum and online resources related to strengths finding and career exploration, new high school classes focused on advanced research and business entrepreneurship, and a mentor program that involves strengths coaching and industry visits to connect students with professionals in the Laguna Beach community and beyond. “We can't thank SchoolPower enough for providing Laguna Beach schools with the financial resources needed to provide our kids with an exceptional learning experience.” [...]
A Dreamy Night for Laguna Beach Schools
SchoolPower held its 33rd Annual Dinner Dance Catching Dreams on February 10 at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The magical event grossed over $320,000 for Laguna Beach schools. $185,000 of this money will go directly toward the annual Fund-A-Need. Remaining funds will assist SchoolPower’s year-round efforts supporting academics, music and the arts. SchoolPower President Kristin Winter welcomed the spirited crowd, setting the stage for the real purpose of the night’s festivities by saying, "Your presence here tonight is everything...it shows that you understand that community support is the way we set Laguna Beach public schools apart." The crowd warmly applauded [...]
Navigating the Information Age Fund-a-Need
Having strong digital literacy skills is not an option - it's a must. In today's information age, whether in academics or the job market, students need to possess a broad range of abilities - from conducting deep research, to evaluating a source, to creating and communicating content responsibly. To support LBUSD in addressing this need, the 2018 Fund-a-Need Navigating the Information Age will invest in a district-wide Digital Library Specialist, as well as part-time teacher coaches. Using a proven model, this team will lead a K-12 effort to improve students’ digital literacy skills. The 2018 Fund-a-Need was held at [...]
SchoolPower Fundraiser Supports Student Well-Being
SchoolPower held its 32nd annual dinner dance at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, and raised $300,000 for Laguna Beach schools, says a statement. About half of that amount was pledged towards the 2017 fund-a-need campaign for the district’s student well-being initiative… Read More
