New $375K Commitment Expands Support for Newcomer Students in SF Public Schools
The Lee Family Legacy Newcomer Grants will provide five years of funding for educator-led projects supporting students in SFUSD Priority Schools.
June 1, 2026 – San Francisco, CA – For students arriving in a new country, schools often become more than places to learn. They become places where students find belonging, encouragement, and community. That belief inspired San Francisco resident Pamela A. Lee to make a $375,000 commitment over the next five years through the San Francisco Education Fund (SF Ed Fund) to launch the Lee Family Legacy Newcomer Grants. This new initiative will directly support newcomer students in the SF Ed Fund’s Priority Schools through its Educator Impact Grant program, which provides funding directly to educators to bring student-centered ideas and projects to life.
Lee created these grants in honor of her late mother and father, Alice and Larry. Alice and Larry separately came to the United States from China in the 1950s and met each other in San Francisco. They worked to support their children's journeys through San Francisco's public school system. Now a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) leading her own business, Pamela credits much of her success to the support she received from her public school teachers in childhood. With the Lee Family Legacy Newcomer Grants, Pamela hopes to give extra support and care to students just like her. These grants are a living tribute to Alice and Larry’s sacrifice, honoring her family's past by championing the potential of every child arriving in San Francisco, the city they now call home.
“The world will be what it becomes, for better or worse, as a result of the people who inhabit it. Each young person has the potential to spark a change for the good of many, and deserves the opportunity to rise to that potential,” said Lee. “It is my hope that these educator grants make a positive difference in at least one child's life.”
The investment arrives at a moment when educators have identified growing needs among newcomer students, defined as young people who have arrived in the United States within the past three years and are adjusting to a new language, school system, and community, often after interrupted formal education. As they navigate enormous transitions, educators are working to create spaces where students feel a sense of belonging.
“Our newcomer students bring tremendous resilience, talent, and potential to our schools and communities,” SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Su said. “As students navigate the challenges of adapting to a new country, language, and school system, it is essential that we create environments where they feel welcomed, supported, and connected. We are deeply grateful to the Pamela Lee Family and the SF Ed Fund for this partnership in helping our educators provide the care, opportunities, and sense of belonging that every student deserves.”
This year, the SF Ed Fund received 140 Educator Impact Grant applications requesting more than $1.1 million in support, 91 more than the previous year. While 22 projects could be funded, more than $940,000 in educator-identified needs remained unmet. Across applications, one theme surfaced repeatedly: belonging. An overwhelming majority of proposals focused on helping students feel safe, connected, and supported at school, particularly students facing barriers to connection. Newcomer students emerged consistently as a priority, with nine applications specifically focused on supporting newcomer students.
At Mission High School, for example, educators proposed projects designed to strengthen mentorship, attendance supports, family partnerships, and community-building opportunities for recently arrived students navigating a new school environment.
"This year’s Educator Impact Grant applications made one thing clear: educators are seeing tremendous need and bringing forward thoughtful solutions," said Ann Levy Walden, CEO of the SF Ed Fund. "Pamela’s investment will help ensure more newcomer students receive the support, connection, and sense of belonging they need to thrive."
The Lee Family Legacy Newcomer Grants will help more educator-led ideas like these become reality. The initiative will provide between five and 12 grants, depending on depth of impact, each year to help schools strengthen support systems for newcomer students.
For Pamela, these grants are more than just dollars. They are a tribute to her parents, an investment in educators, and a way to help ensure that students arriving in San Francisco receive the same care and encouragement that shaped her own journey.
To support the SF Ed Fund’s critical programming for SFUSD’s highest-benefit students, please consider making a donation here. To learn more about providing grants directly to educators and schools, please email development@sfedfund.org.
