Ed Fund Raises $604K at Annual Gala, Pledges to Flood Impacted SFUSD Schools with Resources

The San Francisco Education Fund (the Ed Fund) returned to the historic Hibernia for its annual Back to School Gala on September 26, 2024. This year’s theme, All In for Educational Excellence comes in the face of San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) undergoing a resource realignment process. Regardless of the path the district takes, the Ed Fund remains all in on supporting students, educators, and the city’s public schools. With $604K raised at the gala, the Ed Fund plans to flood impacted schools with support in the form of high-impact literacy tutoring, corporate and community volunteers, and financial resources.

Evening Recap: Student Performance

After a cocktail hour that brought together attendees including SFUSD board members and leadership, DCYF, teachers, and other community members, evening programming officially kicked off with a student performance by Loco Bloco, a community-based Afro-Latino cultural arts program. Last year, an Ed Fund Create Joy grant supported the music program at Willie Brown Middle School, allowing them to partner with Loco Bloco. Students learned Afro-Latino percussion rhythms and performed in both school and community events throughout the city. The music program’s students and graduates were joined by other kids from around the city and Loco Bloco for their gala performance.  

Welcome from Ed Fund Board of Directors President Prasanth Boda & CEO Ann Walden

Following the performance, Ed Fund Board of Directors President Prasanth Boda and CEO Ann Walden welcomed gala attendees with a promise to support schools impacted by the district’s Resource Alignment Initiative. “In a critical year for SFUSD, we pledge to flood all impacted schools with resources. That’s more tutoring, more corporate and community volunteers, and more financial resources for students, educators, and schools.”

State of SFUSD from Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne

SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne took the stage to speak about the state of SFUSD and the importance of working as a community to achieve its ambitious academic goals. “Coming together right now is so important. That’s what I appreciate about Ann and the Ed Fund. She comes to me and asks, what can we do? How can we align our work?”

School Stabilization Team with DCYF Executive Director Maria Su

Finally, Maria Su, Executive Director of the Department of Children, Youth, and their Families gave a passionate plea for the San Francisco community to stay focused on what matters in the coming years. “These are our children that we need to come together to support,” said Su.

Glady Thacher Award Presentation

The Ed Fund also presented its third annual Glady Thacher Community Partnership Award to Room to Breathe. Also nominated this year were Guadalupe Elementary School and the San Francisco Giants. All three nominees played instrumental roles in supporting the Ed Fund’s initiatives to support SFUSD students and teachers. The Glady Thacher Award, which was named in honor of the Ed Fund’s founder, recognizes an organization or individual that has worked alongside the Ed Fund to increase educational equity for students in San Francisco. Ed Fund Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Kroll announced the winner.

Room to Breathe has partnered with the Ed Fund since 2021 to provide Room2BeWell stipends to educators. Because Room to Breathe believes that when teachers thrive, students thrive, they are committed to the well-being of SFUSD educators. This year, the organization will provide $600 stipends to over 700 educators across 13 SFUSD schools. This year, recipients will use their stipends on accordion classes, yoga memberships, paragliding experiences, new running shoes, massages, and more.

Fund-a-Need & Raffle Draw

This year’s emcee Kanani Reynolds led the Fund-a-Need and raffle portions of the evening, allowing attendees to contribute to projects to support the Ed Fund, SFUSD students, and teachers. Raffle prizes included an overnight Sonoma wine adventure, a sports lover package for Giants and 49ers fans, a Napa Valley wine collection, and more. Congratulations to all raffle winners, and thank you to those who raised their paddles during Fund-a-Need!

Thank You

The Ed Fund greatly appreciate all the support from our sponsors who made this event possible and for helping us provide an equitable, excellent education to all San Francisco public school students.