Perspectives
By Children Rising | December 6, 2017
“Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.” – Chinese Proverb
Dear Children Rising Community,
As you may know, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is experiencing significant budget challenges – challenges that the school board and administration are working extremely hard to address. If successful (and I believe they will be), they will have taken a substantial step toward establishing a brighter, more promising future, and securing a stronger foundation for public education for the children of Oakland.
However, in order to do so, the administration must slash more than $15 million from the current school year budget, substantially reducing the dollar amount budgeted for each child during this year. Approximately $5.6 million of those cuts directly impact individual school budgets. Every principal will have some very difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks.
Children Rising stands ready to provide additional help to these principals and teachers who are working hard to support the children during this fiscal crisis. We are preparing to expand our capacity to help during this important time, but will need the continued support of our wonderful Children Rising community in order to do so.
Here’s how you can help:
Join our amazing team of volunteer reading and math tutors. Your personal investment of one to two hours almost any day of the week can literally change the trajectory of a child’s life. Children Rising provides the training and ongoing support to ensure your success with each child. Email volunteer@children-rising.org or call us at (510) 836-5100 to learn more.
Support our December Matching Fund Campaign. We are working hard to add to our funds this year so we can respond to the additional needs of the principals and teachers with expanded services. Generous donors who have already pledged $60,000 will match every dollar of your donation. We hope to raise an additional $60,000 by December 31st to reach or exceed our campaign goal of $120,000. Please send a check with the enclosed donation slip or visit www.children-rising.org/donate/ to make a donation.
Use your company’s Employee Matching Gifts Program. Visit our company match page to find out if your company participates: www.children-rising.org/donate/#company-match.
As always, your partnership is essential to Children Rising’s mission of preparing today’s youth for fulfilling, productive living in the 21st century. This year, your support takes on an even greater purpose. Every donation postmarked by December 31, 2017 will not only be tax-deductible, but will be a gift that keeps on giving – yielding returns for generations to come.
For the Children,
Jim
Join us for our first Reading Tutor Training of the new year!
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
3:00 to 5:30 pm
Children Rising Office
To RSVP, contact Succeeding by Reading Director Rebecca Buckley at rebecca@children-rising.org.