FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Sunny Hills Foundation for Education
Vicki Henderson/Communications
714 870-9221
Scott Daniel/President
714 447-8470
press@sunnyhillsfoundation.com
www.sunnyhillsfoundation.com

Sunny Hills Parents Announce Foundation

Fullerton, California, Wednesday, October 11, 2006 – A group of Fullerton parents today announced the formation of a foundation to benefit Sunny Hills High School. The parents who will form the board of the Sunny Hills Foundation for Education (SHFE) feel strongly that to ensure that the high school excels in today’s competitive environment, it needs funding sources outside of the money provided by the district. “District funding provides the essentials in terms of facilities, books, and teacher’s salaries, but we could do much more,” said Julie Kim, one of the board’s founders. “The top-rated high schools all raise additional funds.”

The board for the foundation has filed articles with the California Secretary of State and is in the process of securing 501(c)3 non-profit status from the IRS. In the coming weeks, the board will finalize their fundraising plans for the next year. These plans will include a direct mail program to solicit direct donations from parents and alumni, grant requests from foundations and other organizations that support education, athletics or the arts, school logo merchandise coordination, and other fundraisers.
Funds raised by the foundation will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for academic, athletic, and art departments at Sunny Hills and to fund other special projects. The board of the foundation will work with the principal, Mr. Atkinson and the school’s department heads to develop a prioritized wish list. This list will form the basis of purchases made with the foundations available funds. Donors will have the opportunity to give directly to specific departments if they choose. Details on the wish lists and the foundation’s goals and policies will be available on their website (www.sunnyhillsfoundation.com).

“The faculty and staff at Sunny Hills are excited about what we can accomplish with the foundation’s help,” said Mr. Atkinson. “We hope to integrate them fully into operations at the school.”

The foundation plans to work closely with the school’s other parent support organizations. They have designated board members as liaisons to the PTSA and Korean Parents Association (KPA) to ensure that their efforts are complimentary. Booster clubs and ASB are also groups with which the foundation will coordinate. “The PTSA and the KPA have important roles in providing an interface between parents and the school. We will be focused strictly on fundraising,” said Vicki Henderson, a board spokesperson.

The foundation will be asking parents to make donations to help the school excel, but there are non-financial ways that parents can contribute as well. The board believes that every parent should try to volunteer for something at the school whether it’s a booster club, the PTSA, or SHFE. The foundation is looking for additional board members and volunteers who will dedicate their time and skills. “We’re looking for parents with computer skills, direct mailing experience, and graphics arts training,” said Scott Daniel, the board’s president. “Later, we’ll need volunteers for mailing and other tasks.”

“Studies show that even a small amount of additional funding makes a big difference,” said Clementina Eley, the board’s secretary. SHFE believes that with the support of the community, Sunny Hills, already an excellent school, can become a great school, on par with the best high schools in the country. They hope the foundation will be a significant part of that effort.

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