Basic Needs
Children cannot be successful in school if they’re sick, hungry or worried about other basic needs. The Foundation—a non profit children’s organization—exists to ensure that basic needs for Vancouver kids are met—from immunizations to hygiene items. Thanks to the generous donations and support of the community, we are able to direct needed resources to meet the basic physical and mental health needs of students in the Vancouver School District.
We do this by working closely with clinics like Free Clinic of Southwest Washington to offer low–cost services to students from low–income or uninsured families. We also sponsor an Emergency Checkbook program, ensuring each district principal has immediate access to meet emergency student needs. And Foundation–supported Family Community Resource Centers are valuable havens for neighborhood youth and families.
Enrichment Grants
The Foundation delights in awarding enrichment grants to encourage innovative classroom projects. These projects support and enhance district curriculum. They’re the projects that make learning truly fun: outdoor lessons that show the science behind horticulture, musical instruments that let children explore the rhythms and sounds of the world, PE equipment that lets every child get active, and much, much more.
Grant applications for district staff are available online at the Vancouver School District staff portal and are due in October, with winners announced shortly after.
Donor Advised Funds
Our donor–advised funds enable individuals to support specific Foundation programs or needs at one or more schools or to help individual classrooms.
If you’re interested in channeling funds to a specific school or classroom, consider an online "First Class" Project Donation. You’ll find it easy to search, choose and donate by school, teacher, classroom needs, or topic. Fund the project(s) you find most compelling.
We also have donors who are interested in giving back to their alma mater. This is a wonderful way for alumni to support young graduates, and for family members to make honorary contributions in memory of loved ones—you can start a scholarship or contribute to an existing one. College scholarships for district seniors are provided through the Foundation thanks to generous donors who designate funds for scholarships that fit their interests.
Contact the Foundation to learn more about donor–advised fund giving.
Be a Lunch Buddy
The Foundation partners with the Vancouver Rotary to coordinate the Lunch Buddy program. Since 1993, this important program has paired community members with elementary students needing a positive adult mentor in their lives.
Mentors typically meet with their assigned lunch buddy once a week on school grounds for about an hour. Lunch can be followed by one-on-one reading, board games, crafts or just talking.
We need you!
Currently 20 Vancouver elementary schools participate in the lunch buddy program. The list of students waiting to be placed with a buddy is growing.
Read more about this valuable volunteer effort on our Programs page or contact us for more information.