Basic Needs
The Foundation began with one generous donation and one solitary vision: to provide for the unmet basic needs of Vancouver’s students. Since then, our funding and vision have broadened. We see "basic" as what students need to come to school healthy, happy and ready to learn. A bed. Glasses. Dental care and hygiene items. School supplies, shoes and clothing.
We work closely with clinics like Free Clinic of Southwest Washington to offer low–cost services to students from low–income or uninsured families.
Emergency Checkbooks – Gives principals at each of our 35 schools the ability to act quickly and discreetly to meet the urgent needs of students. Items most often purchased using these checkbooks include shoes and clothing; personal hygiene items; class, activity and field trip fees; backpacks and school supplies; emergency medication and senior year expenses.
Additional Resources – This reserve fund is used to meet medical, dental, vision, audiology and other catastrophic needs that impact a child’s life. This also includes support for the Family Community Resource Centers, which offer a safe haven and link between families and school communities. Family resource centers turn the word "building" into an action. These facilities are "building" hope, renewal and energy within neighborhoods by offering access to social services, activities, technology, educational resources and more.
Tom Dudley Mental Health Counseling – Funds extended mental health counseling services for identified Vancouver School District students.
