The Lake Washington Schools Foundation (LWSF) celebrated its 10th anniversary by setting even loftier goals for funding educational programs within the school district in the next decade.

At the “Legacy for Learning” luncheon on April 29 at the Juanita High Fieldhouse, LWSF representatives cited the foundation’s achievements — nearly $2 million invested in the school district since it was originally formed by 105 trustees and $120,000 in seed money.

Principals, teachers and a handful of students from the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) who spoke during the luncheon touted the benefits of grant funding in their schools and educational experience.

For this current academic year, the foundation awarded $229,000 to LWSD which, among other things, funded 3-D printers and assisted low-income middle and high school students with scholarships to pay for supplies, fees and extra curricular activities, as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Signature Programs.

“It took a tremendous amount of work and financial support to get where we are today,” LWSF Executive Director Kristina Williams said. “It is truly a testament to the importance and relevancy of the foundation that so many of our trustees and circle members are still involved.”

LWSF President Minerva Butler expressed the foundation’s desire to continue focusing on district programs by raising even more, $2.5 million annually within five years, $5 million annually in 10 years, in addition to their wish of creating an endowment.

If this happened, she said, it would enable them to handle the 27 percent of grant requests that are currently not funded. It would also allow them to further invest in a wide variety of activities such as robotics clubs, supplemental art and math programs, as well as make 3-D printers available to all students.

“To fund programs like these…it will cost significant money,” she said. “How can you help achieve these big goals? It is clear you believe in what you do. Share why you’re involved. Share why you invest in us.”

The foundation’s desire to increase funding reflects the school district’s growth rate, one of the fastest in the state.

LWSD Superintendent Traci Pierce stated they add about 600 students every year and anticipate 4,000 more over the next eight years.

“As our student population grows, so does our need for community support and continued investment in our students,” she said. “Because of the key investments they (the foundation) have made…we are able to continue our focus on our vision of every student future-ready.”

Citing famous Warren Buffett statements on investing, Pierce described the foundation as a long-term investment that has not only borne fruit for students when it began funding programs 10 years ago, but also those in the future.

“Not only have they (the foundation) been investing in our students for the past 10 years, they have plans to nearly double their investment to benefit your students,” she said.

Norman Rockwell Elementary Principal Kirstin Gometz emphasized the importance of teacher support programs, which she said are critical for attracting and retaining good instructors. As part of the $229,000 invested this year, the foundation put $18,000 in a new teacher support program for second-year instructors.

“As principal, I know that my new teachers need the support and presence as they grow into outstanding teachers,” Gometz said. “I’ve seen firsthand the difference in the teachers it (the support program) supports, and moreover for the students that we serve. “

Jason Ewert, a STEM and seventh-grade science teacher at Rose Hill Middle School, credited the foundation for helping fund STEM elective courses such as the one he started in 2007, in addition to a LEGO/Robotics club. The grant, which they have received each year since, has allowed them to grow from a single elective course to the 10 semester STEM elective classes planned for next year, according to Ewert. The grant also allowed them to purchase rechargeable batteries and other equipment necessary. Beginning with a small box of LEGOs, they now have 60 robots, including Kepler, who was on stage with Ewert along with Rose Hill Middle School STEM courses students.

The elective courses, he said, give hundreds of students exposure to STEM.

“It’s been amazing to see the things 11-14-year-olds can do when given the opportunity to work with cutting-edge resources,” he said. “A huge part of the success is simply getting these resources in their hands. Let’s keep the ball rolling and see what happens.”

Dennis Bounds, KING5 TV anchor from Redmond, emceed the luncheon.