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What is The Buckeye Education Foundation?
Our Vision...
Our vision is to inspire children to reach their full potential by funding arts education and other vital programs.
Our Mission...
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The Buckeye Education Foundation’s mission is to support quality educational programs in the arts and other areas for each child in the Buckeye Union School District. As concerned citizens, committed parents, and advocates for educational excellence, we raise funds, gather resources, and act as a catalyst to involve the community in supporting public education. We celebrate the importance, value, and achievement of our students, teachers, and schools.
Our History...
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The Buckeye Education Foundation is YOUR nonprofit organization, created by Buckeye parents for all of our children, with the sole purpose of supporting the education of Buckeye students.
​California schools are underfunded. California school districts simply cannot afford many of the “extras” of the past, due to inadequate funding – the “extras” such as art, music, sports, drama, etc. which we all know are fundamental to a well-rounded education, and truly not “extra” at all. But all of these wonderful programs began to disappear about 40 years ago, soon after CA voters chose to put a cap on property taxes. Over half of the money that was given to schools every year simply evaporated. When the money disappeared, things like art, sports, music, PE, librarians, counselors, and so much more started getting cut.
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The Buckeye Foundation was started in 2010, at the height of the recession, by some wonderful and dedicated parents who moved to our area from other California communities where school district foundations are common. When the recession began to further threaten school funding, these parents understood that if we wanted to save many of the teachers, staff, and programs about to be cut, that our school district was going to need outside help to fund them, so they launched the Buckeye Education Foundation. The Foundation got to work immediately, fundraising throughout the community, and helping to save our school Libraries and PE programs. For several years the Buckeye Foundation was able to help keep our library and PE programs alive by providing supplemental funding directly to BUSD. When the immediate crisis subsided, the Foundation was able to then direct its efforts to contributing to Buckeye's technological infrastructure, and supplemental programs such as middle school performing arts.
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​Buckeye is a great school district with strong schools and the reason many of us moved to the communities we call home, but there are more programs we wish the district could offer our children including: art, drama, choir, dance, music, sports, and more. And this is why the Buckeye Foundation exists – to help raise money, and then make grants to the district to support the programs we want to see funded. We also hope to serve as insurance for our schools, promising that whatever the future brings, our students will continue to receive all of the invaluable services and programs that make Buckeye the world- class, award winning school district that it is.
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Our Achievements...
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​Since launch, the Foundation has granted over $600,000 to district-wide educational programs and instruction support, including supplementing funding for library staff and PE teachers, funding for teacher training, funding of a middle school drama program, and Wi-Fi and tech support.
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Board of Directors
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Melissa Keyzer, President
Melissa@buckeyefoundation.org
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Michael Smith, Vice President
Michael@buckeyefoundation.org
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Shannon Yoffie, Board Member
Shannon@buckeyefoundation.org
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Karen Brown, Board Member
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Elizabeth Davies, Board Member
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We are always looking for Buckeye community members interested in joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors and committees. If you are interested, please send us an email HERE.
We welcome you at our board meetings. We conduct most meetings via Zoom, with the occasional meeting held at the BUSD District Office Training Room.
Email info@buckeyefoundation.org for the zoom link for our next meeting.
How You Can Help...
Without volunteer help, the Foundation cannot succeed!
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Volunteers are integral to the success of our Buckeye schools and truly make a difference in our children’s education. Since we are an all-volunteer organization and operate without paying salaries or benefits, we are able to donate over 90% of funds raised to support educational programs for the children in our schools.
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The Buckeye Education Foundation is made up of people like you who believe in providing our children with the best possible education. Your gift of time makes an incalculable difference in our ability to support our public schools.
You can serve on a committee or help out with smaller tasks and events as your time permits. Drop us an email or join our email list and we will keep you updated on all Foundation related News and Events.
Volunteers are integral to the success of the Buckeye Education Foundation. No matter what your talent, there is a way to get involved. No matter how little (or how much) time you have to spare, there is a way you can help! Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends and have fun while positively impacting our schools and children.
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The following committees need your help!
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Campus Council Representative: We are seeking one or more parent representatives from each BUSD campus to attend our board meetings and share information about campus activities. (Time commitment: approx. 1 hr./mo.)
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Business Committee: Members help to seek out local business partnerships and donations. (Time commitment: as desired; possibly 1 hr./mo.)
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Events Committee: Members help plan and coordinate community building events. (Time commitment: as desired, depending on the event you choose to help with.)
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Annual Campaign Committee: Help us coordinate and run our annual back-to-school fundraising campaign. (Approx. 1-2 hrs./mo. between July and September, helping us with advertising and donation collection, and delivering donation forms and prizes to schools.)
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Please join us!
Contact us: info@buckeyefoundation.org
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