Dear Friends and Supporters,
We did it! Another school year is wrapping up. Thank you to the school staff, family members, community partners, volunteers, and others who joined forces to support PPS students.
As we end this year, we’re sharing a range of examples about the impact of community investment in public schools. If you have an idea of how to make the Portland Public Schools even better, please reach out!
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Gratitude for Departing Board Members
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Some of our FPPS Board Members. In back: Sarah Southard, Derek Pierce, Lorie Dana, Emily Chaleff, Ahmed Abdirahman, Nate Henry, Jill Botler, Steve Segal, Andi Weisman Summers, Melissa Knoll. In front: Carol Hager, Marie Mueller, Blanca Santiago, Lisa Page, Marnie Morrione.
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For the first 23 years of our existence, the Foundation for Portland Public Schools (FPPS) was run entirely by volunteers. These dedicated PPS parents, community members, and business leaders created opportunities for volunteering in schools, launched our teacher grant program, and more!
Although we’ve been a staffed organization since 2015, we still couldn’t function without our board, committee members, and other volunteers.
This year, we’re saying goodbye to a number of long-time, dedicated board members. Each of them has had an enormous impact on our organization and on our schools. Thank you for your service:
- Sarah Moran
- Lorie Dana
- Blanca Santiago
- Ahmed Abdirahman
- Naomie Mayavanga Maku
- Meara Van Der Zee
- Nate Adekoya
- Steve Segal
- Emily Chaleff
- Melea Nalli
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Portland Kids Duathlon to Support Portland Schools
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The Portland Kids Duathlon is back in person on July 23rd at Payson Park in Portland. The goals for this race are to get kids active and outdoors, inspire families to get fit together, and support Portland schools. All profits and sponsorships from this race are donated to FPPS!
Presented by Benchmark Real Estate, this race gives kids an opportunity to participate in a multi-sport race set up just like the adult races. This race goes all out with professional timing, blow-up finish line, medals, swag, and professional photography. The run, bike, run format of a duathlon is fun and approachable.
Race Details
- Who can participate? Kids ages 3-12 in person and any age for virtual. There is also an accessible bike only wave for kids 5-12 with special needs.
- What do you get? #alltheswag! Athletes gets medals, race bibs, t-shirts, and sponsor swag. For virtual participants, race organizers ship everything ahead of the race period so families can create a race experience all their own!
- When will it be held? July 23 in person at Payson Park in Portland or July 23rd and after around the world.
Learn more and register at www.portlandkidsduathlon.com
The event also needs volunteers to go smoothly and safely. Please consider joining us and sign up for a volunteer shift.
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See what all the fun is about at the Portland Kids Duathlon!
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Grants to Support Portland Students
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A key element of our work is seeking grants to increase educational opportunities and address unmet needs in our schools. Over the last several weeks, we’ve received the following grants:
- The Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund of the Maine Community Foundation donated $7,500 and the Ludcke Foundation donated $30,000 to support the Families in Crisis program. These gifts allow school social workers and multilingual staff to help families in need with rent, utility, medical, or transportation costs.
- The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation provided additional funding for Wabanaki Studies curriculum work. This two year, $45,000 grant supports finishing and using the new, K-12 nature-based curriculum.
- Unum donated $10,000 for free swimming lessons for immigrant teens. FPPS, PPS, and the Boys & Girls Club are working together to provide free swimming and water safety lessons next fall. The program will help newcomers learn critical water safety skills and have fun and enjoy the water.
- The John T. Gorman Foundation approved a $15,000 grant to FPPS to support the Annetta Weatherhead Fund for Reiche School. This FPPS managed fund is run by Reiche staff to provide flexible funding and resources to meet the needs of Reiche students.
- Generac Power Systems in South Portland granted FPPS $10,000 to expand resources to engage K-12 students in coding, robotics, and engineering as part of their STEM education.
Thank you to our funders. We are so grateful for our business and philanthropic partners in the community.
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Have a great summer!
Best,
Andi Weisman Summers, Executive Director
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