Parents, Teachers Raise Money for Music

A group of concerned parents, teachers and staff volunteers have launched a district-wide Phone-A-Thon in support of the San Mateo Foster City Education Foundation, which aims to resurrect an elementary school music program and support similar middle school programs.

The Education Foundation has already raised $50,000 this year, allowing the San Mateo Foster City School District to maintain a fifth grade music program. The group is hoping to raise $400,000 by the end of the year, which it says it needs to cover the costs of expanding the music program to all kindergarten through fifth grade students in the district.

A similar program was eliminated in 2008.

“Many thanks to the parents and staff who are helping to man the phones at the SMFC Education Foundation Phone-A-Thon,” Dr. Janet Koe, the foundation’s president said in a prepared statement.

“Their enthusiasm and excitement at the thought of bringing back elementary music and supporting the middle school program is infectious and bubbling over into our parent community,”

The SMFC Education Foundation was established in 1989 to help support and enhance public education in the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District.  Since its founding, it has donated more than $2.8 million to support programs for the more than 11,000 students in the district.  For more information or to donate, please visit www.smfcedfund.org