The Lake Washington Schools Foundation supports academic excellence and success for all students in the Lake Washington School District.

We do this by granting money to the school district and directly to schools through  grants such as “Reaching for Success” grants that fund classroom enrichment and enhancement directed at each schools Continuous Improvement Plan, funding for academically at-risk elementary students with financial needs to attend summer school, leveling the playing field for junior high and high school students with financial challenges to pay for items such as science lab fees or AP testing fees, and the LINKS mentoring program.

To date, the Foundation has provided over $750,000 to benefit students within LWSD. In order to provide this support, we need to raise the funds. With the current state funding challenges, Foundation support to the district is needed now more than ever.

Our annual fund raiser is “A Legacy for Learning” luncheon that will be held at Juanita High School on April 20. We host more than 500 community members each year at the event. We invite all of you who have a passion for excellence in education and want our kids prepared for the future and a stronger community. Several local businesses such as Microsoft, Sodexo and LWYSA have sponsored the event so the lunch is complimentary with all monies raised directly benefitting students, teachers and schools. We are fortunate to live in a community that values and supports education.

Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, executive director of Wings over Washington. She is a retired NASA astronaut with five missions to her credit, and the former president and CEO of the Museum of Flight. Dr. Dunbar has a strong passion for education and promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in schools.

To register to attend the luncheon, please go to our Web site at www.lwsf.org. Guests are invited to arrive at JHS at 11 a.m. with the program beginning promptly at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. Thank you to the thousands of donors over the last six years who have supported the Foundation. We greatly appreciate your generosity and hope for your continued support!

Terri Blier, Foundation president