PEF Newsletter: Summer is Here But Our Mission Marches On!
Dear Friends of PEF,
Summer is here, and while school campuses may be quieter, PEF is abuzz with planning for our upcoming BASH! Remember: tickets go on sale July 1st, so stay tuned.
Whether you’re soaking up the sun, planning your next lesson, preparing your student for the fall, or simply enjoying some well-deserved rest, we hope you’ll take a few moments to catch up on the exciting updates from your Petaluma Educational Foundation.
In this newsletter, we’re celebrating a fundraising milestone, sharing important reminders for our incredible educators, spotlighting the magic of graduation season, and bringing you a charming Alphabet Soup story you won’t want to miss. Wherever summer takes you, we hope you’ll carry our shared mission with you—and maybe even be inspired to join in a new way.
With gratitude,
Your friends at PEF
Maureen, Katy, Sharon, Liz & Abbie (PHS student intern)
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Stay in the Loop!From grants to graduations, from thrift shop tales to scholarships in action, our work is only possible because of you, our generous, passionate, and ever-growing PEF family.
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Progress Report: We did it!
Thanks to the generosity and heart of our amazing community, PEF hit our program fundraising goal for this academic year, right on time before our June 30 deadline! That means more opportunities, more impact, and more dreams supported for over 12,000 students in our community.
Together, we awarded a little over $428,000 in Impact Grants for the 2024-2025 school year! This funding goes directly into classrooms to fuel creativity, innovation, and enrichment across all grade levels and academic focus areas.
But as always, the work doesn’t stop. The next chapter of “Funding the Future” begins now and is the focus of our PEF BASH Gala on September 6th. If you believe every student deserves a chance to thrive, we invite you to help us keep the momentum going and make your pledge for the 2025-2026 school year.
Recess: Hats off to the Class of 2025!Graduation season always fills us with hope and pride. To every student who crossed the stage this spring—congratulations! We were honored to celebrate with you, and we can’t wait to see how your stories unfold.PEF's Scholarship program supports students wanting to continue their learning at 2-year colleges, 4-year universities, and trade/vocational programs. |
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What’s happening on your campus this summer?
We love seeing how our schools stay vibrant year-round. Share your updates and photos with us on social media—we might just feature them in our next newsletter!
Stay tuned and regularly check our website’s What’s New page for all the latest news and information!
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PEF BASH Opportunities:Don't miss the chance to be part of the 2025 PEF BASH:
Contact Liz for all the important information!
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Educator Corner: Start Your Impact Grant Applications Today!
To all our amazing educators: while we hope you’re taking time to rest and recharge, summer is also a great time to begin planning your next Impact Grant proposal! Applications for the 2025–26 school year are due October 1.
Have an idea that will spark curiosity, boost student well-being, or ignite a love of learning? We can’t wait to hear about it. Learn more about the process and get inspired by past projects on our website. Start your grant prep now and review the online application.
Share Your Ideas: Address the Summer SlideAs an educator, do you have suggestions you want to share with families about slowing the "Summer Slide" and how to keep students learning during this time? Let us know, and we may feature your insight and suggestions on our social media platforms! |
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Alphabet Soup: Hidden Treasures & Heartfelt Finds
You never know what treasures you’ll find at our Alphabet Soup Thrift Stores - or what stories those treasures will tell.
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One recent afternoon, regular customer Jenna spotted a painting of a charming country church. Susan Tomasini, another frequent visitor, paused and said, “I got married in that church 50 years ago on March 1st.” Katherine and Diane, two of our longtime volunteers, overheard the conversation and joined in. The result? Susan purchased the painting as a heartfelt memento to mark her golden anniversary. |
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What’s your favorite Alphabet Soup find?
Share your stories on social! Be sure to tag us and Alphabet Soup so we can share with our followers!
Volunteers Needed! We would love to add you to our volunteer team. Please get in touch with our store manager, Colleen Reitzel, to learn more about our volunteer opportunities. We have flexible shifts that fit your schedule.
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
