Carpinteria Education Foundation
CEF’s History and Accomplishments
The Carpinteria Education Foundation (CEF), a nonprofit organization of volunteers formed in 1993, provides financial assistance and support for public schools in the Carpinteria Unified School District (CUSD). CEF’S Mission is threefold: 1. To Promote Excellence in Education; 2. To Channel Private Sector Resources to the Carpinteria Unified School District; 3. To Inform and Involve the Community in the Needs of the School District. Since its inception, CEF has distributed over $2,300,000 in funds towards the enhancement of educational opportunities for Carpinteria and Summerland students.
Through the generosity of a local benefactor CEF established an endowment in 1999, guaranteeing that a vitally important source of funds will continue to benefit the Carpinteria Unified School District and its students and teachers well into the future. The interest realized from this investment, minus a minimal operating budget, is given to the schools through program sponsorships, annual grants to schools, a co-sponsored art contest award, and student scholarships.
Current programs and activities
CEF raises additional funds through two annual events and direct community solicitation. Our yearly fundraising event generates donations through a silent auction. These funds provide for teacher mini-grants, program grants, and school club grants. Our annual Orchard to Ocean Run returns all net proceeds to the eight schools in the district. The parent group at each school site is presented with a check, representative of their school population, to help finance various school projects, including physical education equipment, Children's Creative Project, and field trips such as the fifth-grade Catalina Island Marine Institute science trip. As state-funding is continually reduced, our organization becomes increasingly important to ensuring the sustainability and success of our local schools.
The Carpinteria Valley is a culturally and ethnically diverse community of 19,400 people. Currently, 2,700 school-aged children (grades K-12) in the community are being educated in the district. Approximately 64% of the student population is Latino. The remaining is primarily Anglo, mixed with a small percentage of Asian, African-Americans, and other ethnic groups. District-wide, 40% are classified as English learners. Over 50% of the students in the district are registered for free and reduced lunch, suggesting a low income level.
CEF’s general board is comprised of educators, parents and business people from throughout the Carpinteria Valley, 100% of who have donated to the organization in some form (sponsorship, cash donation, in-kind goods/services). In an effort to reduce overhead, we operate out of our homes and maintain one part-time administrative position. The executive board meets once per month, as does the general board. Several ad hoc committees meet as required.
CEF's Relationships with other Organizations
CEF works closely with the Carpinteria school district to identify areas of need. Five administrators serve on the general board. CEF works with the Santa Barbara Creative Arts Program, local parent groups, and Partners in Education to provide needed programs. While other organizations promote education, CEF is unique in that it looks to provide programs, equipment, facilities, and events, which are not obtainable through state or district funding, for all public schools specifically in Carpinteria.