Los Gatos Weekly-Times

LGEEF's Phone-A-Thon seeks donations for 'extras'

By Michelle Alaimo

Los Gatos Union School District parents who haven't made a donation to the Los Gatos Elementary Educational Foundation this school year can expect a phone call on Nov. 2 as part of the foundation's Phone-A-Thon.

More than 2,400 calls are expected to be made to parents as part of the 15th annual event. Parents are asked to donate money, which is then used to subsidize district-wide programs such as science labs, computer labs, physical education equipment and Triad on-campus counseling.

Maureen Stanton, phone-a-thon chairwoman, said the event is the biggest of the year for the LGEEF, which was started 15 years ago to help support the schools following the passage of Proposition 13.

Parents who have already mailed in donations won't be called on the night of the fundraiser. "We've had a higher percentage of early returns, and more people are sending in higher donations than in the past," Stanton said. The number of phone calls made during the phone-a-thon will be decreased based on how many people mailed in donations.

This year, due to increasing enrollment from new families moving into the area, the foundation is hoping for a contribution of $250 per family. Stanton said the foundation hopes to surpass last year's $130,000 mark and raise $150,000.

By making this year's goal, Stanton said, "we can take on new projects in addition to funding continuing projects."

Stanton said several programs already have committed funding from the LGEEF, such as Fisher Middle School's Teaching and Tutoring Program, which offers students a place to study or get help.

She added that when a program such as TNT asks for money, a proposal is given to the foundation detailing expenses. The LGEEF then grants money for the program based on the amount listed on the proposal and whether it meets other LGEEF criteria. If a program underestimates the amount of money it will need for the year, that can lead to problems. Many of the programs the LGEEF funds can only exist with the help of this supplemental money.

The foundation has raised more than $1 million for districtwide programs since it was founded in 1982. In the last three years alone, the foundation has raised nearly $100,000 Stanton said.

Hitachi gives the fundraiser a boost each year by providing sales support rooms and dinner for the some 50 phone-a-thon volunteers.

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