Mission
The Renton Schools Foundation Mission is to increase and enhance educational opportunities for all Renton School District students by providing financial support through the fostering of community partnerships.
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The foundation helps bridge the gap between inadequate state and federal funding and the cost of high-quality learning opportunities for every child, every day in every classroom.
Goals
Our current focus is funding:
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STEM Education - Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
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Music & Arts
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Literacy
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Teacher Grants
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Principal's Emergency Fund
We strive to inspire our community to invest in education through…
Increasing public awareness about the funding challenges facing our schools and students and by communicating the short and long-term benefits of having a thriving school district that produces educated, engaged, and productive citizens.
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We cultivate school-parent-community partnerships by…
Collaborating with Renton School District administration, teachers, and principals; PTA and parents; businesses; civic leaders; higher education institutions; professional education organizations; and other area education service organizations.
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We foster broad corporate investment by…
Inviting representatives of local, state, and national companies to engage with us; encouraging participation in our mentoring, apprenticeship, and scholarship programs to foster true business/education partnerships for mutual benefit.
We support the vitality of our community
The 15,000+ students in the Renton School District are our most valuable resource. But education does not just impact students and teachers – the quality of our schools is directly related to the vitality of our community as a whole. Having great schools increases pride in our community; increases home and commercial real estate values; provides a trainable and educated workforce; produces more affluent consumers; and reduces crime. Students today become the voters of tomorrow in a world with issues that are increasingly more complex and their future votes will impact everyone.
History
The Renton Schools Foundation was established by a group of community volunteers in 2009 as the Friends of Renton Schools. Initially, the Friends of Renton Schools was a non-profit fund under the fiscal sponsorship of the Renton Regional Community Foundation. Through the generosity of individual and corporate donors, the Friends of Renton Schools continued to grow in its support of the students of the Renton School District.
In 2018, the Friends of Renton Schools transitioned to the current name Renton Schools Foundation and in 2019, obtained status as an independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. Tax ID/EIN 83-4113441.
Your gifts to the Renton Schools Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.
Leadership
Renton Schools Foundation is governed by an elected Board of Directors. Our all-volunteer Board is comprised of parents, educators, alumni, and leaders in business and the community. We strive to represent our District's diverse community. Voting Directors include at least one parent representative from each of our three service areas: Renton High School, Hazen High School, and Lindbergh High School.
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We are actively seeking additional Board Members, particularly parent representatives for each of the school service areas. Please contact us to learn more!
Current Board of Directors
Pam Teal, President - Community Volunteer
Geri Carlson, Treasurer - Community Volunteer
Christina Park, Secretary - College and Career Specialist, Lindbergh High School
Dr. Avanti Bergquist Eating Recovery Center of WA; Alumni-Hazen High School
Randy Matheson - Renton School District Community Relations
Samir Patel - Apple, Community Volunteer
Shivani Kailesh Patel - Amazon Robotics; Community Volunteer
Dr. Damien Pattenaude Superintendent of the Renton School District; Alumni – Renton High School (Ex-Officio Director, non-voting)
Greg Piantanida - G.P. Realty Finance
Pamela Scott - Renton School District, RSD Parent of Alumni
Shelby Scovel - WellSense; Renton School District Parent