Vision
Every student in the Pasadena Unified School District will receive an excellent education so that each may reach his or her full potential and become a joyful and fully engaged member of our democratic society.
Mission
The Pasadena Educational Foundation advocates for public education, engages the community, and develops resources to support excellent education for every Pasadena Unified School District student.
History
In 1971 civic leaders in Pasadena formed the Pasadena Educational Foundation to provide community support and resources for the students of the Pasadena Unified School District. Relying on contributions from the community, PEF in its early years awarded grants to community agencies that supported education.
- In 1980 PEF began a Teacher Grant Program to fund special projects requested by PUSD teachers.
- In 1985 it developed a district-wide tutoring and homework assistance program(THAN) which later became a state-funded program.
- In 1992 consultants were retained to develop a fundraising strategy and to write grant applications for funds from independent foundations supporting public education.
- In 1994 PEF hired its first executive director and established an office at PUSD Education Center.
- In recent years PEF has sought greater support from the community, provided professional grant application services for PUSD for government grants, and enhanced its support for PUSD teachers and other programs for PUSD. From its modest beginnings of raising $10,000 a year, PEF, now on average raises approximately $6,000,000 a year for educational programs in the PUSD.
PEF is supported by funds from the community.