Year in Review
The Renton Schools Foundation (RSF) team is excited to share the highlights from this year, starting with a record total of $572,826 in grants awarded to the Renton School District (RSD).
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Thanks to the generous contributions of 53 corporations, including long-standing sponsors such as Boeing, Toyota of Renton, Walker’s Renton Subaru, Amazon, and Kaye-Smith, these gifts amounted to over $500,000. In addition, 167 individuals contributed over $100,000. These donations continue to enhance opportunities for students, provide grants to staff, and support families in our schools.
Music & Arts - $26.235
This year, the RSF continued to support every middle and high school by providing funds for purchasing instruments for band and orchestra classrooms. In partnership, Renton Rotary has assumed the purchase of all recorder instruments for 4th-grade elementary students. This allowed the RSF budget to support theatrical performances at many of our secondary schools. RSF is grateful to have such dedicated partners in our community.
Literacy - $57,145
Over 7,100 elementary students and their families continue to have access to thousands of digital books in both English and Spanish through the myON platform. This year students read 51,000 books, amounting to over 17,554 hours of reading.
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering & Math - $76,100
We discovered that the new 3D printers granted last year are significantly better and faster than the older models. As a result, RSF provided each school with another new 3D printer, allowing more students access to this technology.
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RSF supplied a full school year of science materials to Renton Innovation Zone Elementary Schools (RIZ). Thank you King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn, for your additional grant to enhance science-related student opportunities in our schools.​
For the second consecutive year, RSF matched a $30,000 grant from Olympia to expand the Computer Science program at all elementary schools. This special program allows high school students to become mentor “teachers” working with elementary students and sharing their love of robotics.
New 3D Printers
Funding for Science Materials
Computer Science Program
Summer School - $80,000
Over 100 1st through 3rd grade students from 16 elementary schools participated in summer school this year. Our teachers worked to plan and prepare learning opportunities for students who benefit from extra class time to improve reading, mathematics, STEM learning, and more.
Quote from a student:
“I feel like a stronger mathematician after coming to Summer Adventures.”
Teacher Grants - $37,000
The day before Thanksgiving, several teachers and staff members were awarded grants for their classrooms. Many thanks to all our donors, especially the Renton Regional Community Foundation Fund holders: including the Bergquist Family Fund and the Joy Poff Fund for Education and Families.
Here is just one of the appreciation emails! From Principal Lautman at Talbot Hill Elementary School:
​​"With this generous grant from the Renton Schools Foundation, our new dual language program will be enriched with a diverse collection of Spanish books, empowering students to develop literacy skills, deepen cultural understanding, and foster a love for reading in both languages. This grant is an investment in our student's future, nurturing confident, empathetic learners who are prepared to excel both in school and beyond."
Principals Emergency Fund - $15,500
In our fourth year of supporting principals through the PEF, we are excited to announce that we have expanded this program to include all 16 Renton School District elementary schools. We are grateful for the ongoing support from our founders, Bob and Kerry Hodges, their friends and family, Amazon, the Renton Regional Community Foundation Circle of Giving, and the CARE Together Fund. In early December RSF received notification of an additional $10,000 grant from the First Financial Northwest Foundation for the upcoming year.
Since the start of this school year, the Principal's Emergency Fund has enabled schools to:
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Purchase shoes for students
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Purchase bike helmets to help students get to school on their bikes.
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Provided temporary hotel housing for a family who does not speak English and is currently experiencing homelessness. If not for this fund, the family would have slept at the Tukwila Light Rail Station.
Additional Grants - $580,600
This year RSF has also received several “targeted grants” that support specific programs within the Renton School District.
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The Boeing Corporation granted RSF $250,000 for the third consecutive year. This grant is to continue the targeted mathematics support for 3rd-8th grade students.
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Big thanks to three special alums of Lakeridge Elementary, Jerry, Bob, and Ed, who have continued their generous support, granting funds to enhance the school’s entire population!
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We are excited to continue our partnership with the Seattle Sounders FC - RAVE Foundation. This year, they generously donated four autographed Seattle Sounders jerseys for our fundraising luncheon. On April 28, 2025, we are thrilled to be holding our annual fundraising event at the Seattle Sounders Training Facility!
Thank You
In closing, the RSF team is very thankful for ALL your sponsorships, gifts, and partnerships this year. Your trust in us allows support to students and teachers in a district of 27 Schools, 32.5 Square miles, and over 14,000+ students!
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Thank you for your continued support,
Pam Teal and the RSF Team