Faced with a looming budget deficit in 2012, the Mill Valley School District has come to rely increasing more on Kiddo!, and the foundation has stepped up to the plate by meeting its $2.7 million fundraising goal. That's up from $2.4 million in 2011.
“Last spring, the Mill Valley School District faced a huge deficit resulting from state budget cuts and explosive enrollment growth,” Keane said. “But through a shared solution model of district and teacher reductions, increased fundraising by PTA and Kiddo!, and the successful passage of the Measure B parcel tax, this community has stepped up to preserve our educational excellence.”
Support poured in from around Mill Valley, including a projected $200,000 from the Business Partners Program, $50,000 from shopping programs like eScrip and Mill Valley Market’s Shop & Give, and $153,000 in interest from the Kiddo! Endowment Fund.
Kiddo! also for a challenge put forth by a group of district families to meet a 75 percent participation rate. They surpassed it, with 1,718 families, or 78 percent, making a donation to the local foundation.
Kiddo! has contributed more than $20 million since 1982 to supplement the Mill Valley School District budget. In recent years the district has come to depend more and more on the organization, which has stepped up its fundraiser efforts in light of dwindling property tax revenues, rising costs associated with a booming enrollment, and a budget deficit. It currently funds a wealth of programs, which grew to include physical education this year.
“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from families, businesses and the community,” said Trisha Garlock, Kiddo! Executive Director. “We are lucky to live in a wonderful community that places a high value on providing our children with an excellent public school education.”
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