As a result, the district will now be able to fund eight music classes, including middle and high school jazz, orchestra, and middle school choir, preserving essential opportunities for creative expression, skill-building, and connection for hundreds of students. The campaign will cover the cost of 1.5 fte positions, split between the eight schools, and preserving the following classes:

• Orchestra at Alderwood Middle School, serving over 80 7th-grade string students
• Jazz Band at Meadowdale, Alderwood, and Brier Terrace Middle Schools
• Jazz Band 2 at Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace High Schools
• Choir at Brier Terrace Middle School
• Music Technology at Meadowdale High School

“I’m thrilled by and thankful for the generosity of caring citizens in our community,” said Rick Steves. “Together, we exceeded our goal to help fund music programs in our local public schools, and I’m proud to be a part of this initiative.”

“The response from our community has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Tam Osborne, Manager of Visual & Performing Arts for the Edmonds School District. “When we faced the difficult reality of budget constraints impacting some of our music programs, our families, local businesses, and community members stepped forward with remarkable support. Their commitment to our students’ musical education has made all the difference.”

“Music education is fundamental to a well-rounded academic experience,” Osborne continued. “These programs don’t just teach students to play instruments or sing – they develop critical thinking, teamwork, discipline, and self-expression. Many thanks to the Foundation for Edmonds School District for their advocacy, and to the many donors whose generosity directly supports these music programs.”

The Foundation credits the campaign’s success to the collective power of community. “Our local community sent a clear message: music matters,” said Deborah Brandi, Foundation Executive Director. “Thanks to this shared commitment, students across the district will continue to learn, create, and thrive in programs that nurture expression, connection, and confidence. We are incredibly grateful to everyone involved.”

For more information about the Save the Arts campaign or to support future efforts, visit www.foundationesd.org.

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This funding will support the purchase of food for key programs for students and families facing food insecurity, including seven pop-up pantries across the district providing nutritious and culturally appropriate food, 6,000 meals for 300 students participating in their upcoming summer camps, and weekend meal kits that reach nearly 800 students during the school year. Click here to read the whole article.

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A $26,700 grant will help cover Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam fees for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. These exams are part of dual credit programs that allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, helping them prepare for college and save on tuition costs.

Until recently, the state helped subsidize these exam fees for students from lower-income households. With that funding no longer available, many families are now faced with new costs that could prevent students from taking the exams, even after successfully completing the rigorous coursework that prepares them. Click here to read the whole article.

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A $26,700 grant will help cover Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam fees for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. These exams are part of dual credit programs that allow students to earn college credit while still in high school, helping them prepare for college and save on tuition costs.

Until recently, the state helped subsidize these exam fees for students from lower-income households. With that funding no longer available, many families are now faced with new costs that could prevent students from taking the exams, even after successfully completing the rigorous coursework that prepares them.

This grant will help offset exam and related fees so that students from low-income families can continue to access these opportunities. Dual credit programs are widely recognized for improving college readiness and increasing the likelihood that students will complete a degree. By removing this financial barrier, students can fully benefit from their work in the program.

The Foundation also received a $56,375 grant to support post-secondary scholarships for graduating seniors as they pursue college, technical training, or other post-secondary education. Scholarships provide critical support for students as they transition from high school to the next stage of their education, particularly for those who may face financial barriers.

“We are incredibly thankful for the Hazel Miller Foundation,” said Deborah Brandi, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “Their support ensures students can fully benefit from the hard work they put into their education and continue pursuing their dreams after graduation.”

Through partnerships with community organizations and donors, the Foundation works to remove barriers and expand opportunities for students across the Edmonds School District.

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This cycle includes funding for the Foundation for Edmonds School District, Washington West Africa Center, Edmonds Waterfront Center, Cascadia Art Museum, and Teachers of Color Foundation, among others—organizations working to expand learning opportunities, celebrate cultural heritage, strengthen community spaces and support those who call the region home. Click here to read the whole article.

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This year, in an unprecedented and a staggering turn of events, the Foundation for Edmonds School District’s Nourishing Network is on track to serve up to 1,000 kids, all from food insecure families who rely upon free, or reduced priced, meals at public school as their primary source of nutrition. Click here to read the whole article.

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Verdant Health Commission is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of South Snohomish County residents. Through strategic investments and partnerships, Verdant addresses community needs such as access to healthcare, food security, mental health, and physical wellness.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Foundation for Edmonds School District to ensure that no student goes hungry, and has access to holistic programs and services that can help them succeed,” said Verdant Health Commissioner, Jim Distelhorst, MD. “With over 21,000 students in the Edmonds School District, supporting these families is an important part of Verdant’s mission to improve the health and well-being of South Snohomish County residents.”

“We are deeply grateful for Verdant’s continued partnership,” said Deborah Brandi, Foundation for Edmonds School District Executive Director. “Their investment ensures that children in our community have the nutrition, stability, and mental health support they need to learn and thrive.”

Launched in 2017, Whole Families, Whole Communities was created to ensure that every student has the foundation to learn, grow, and thrive. The program provides vulnerable students and families with coordinated, wraparound supports that address the interconnected barriers to learning, including food and housing insecurity, access to health care, and mental health challenges. Over time, WFWC has evolved into a robust afterschool initiative that brings these essential services directly to students where they are, combining academic support with social-emotional learning, wellness education, and family engagement.

With Verdant’s support, FESD will expand its Student Wellness initiative, an extension of WFWC designed to respond to the growing need for mental health and behavioral supports, particularly among middle school students who are facing increased stress, anxiety, and social pressures.

Piloted at Alderwood Middle School (AMS) in spring 2025, the afterschool program provided mental health support and social-emotional skill development to 30 students each week. With the new funding, FESD will continue offering programs at AMS, ensuring students have access to the care and connection they need to stay engaged in school and build resilience for the future.

Since 2014, the Nourishing Network program has provided food access to students and families facing food insecurity. Nearly half of Edmonds School District students are economically disadvantaged, and more than 800 students experience housing instability. Nourishing Network meets these families where they are by delivering weekend meal kits, hosting pop-up pantries, and offering summer meals to ensure no child goes hungry when school is out.

Last year, the program distributed more than 350,000 food items and reached over 800 students and families weekly. Through close collaboration with school-based Family Resource Advocates, Nourishing Network also connects families to personalized support such as housing, employment, and health resources, helping them move from crisis toward stability.

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The Foundation for Edmonds School District said it reached its $222,000 fundraising goal to cover the costs of 1.2 full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching positions across six schools.

Orchestra at Alderwood Middle School, serving over 80 7th-grade string students. Jazz Band at Meadowdale, Alderwood, and Brier Terrace Middle Schools. Jazz Band 2 at Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace High Schools. Click here to read the whole article.

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When the Congress passed the President’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” or what Rep. Larsen calls the “Big Ugly Law,” back in June, he opted to cut approximately $186 billion in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding through 2034. Roughly one million Washingtonians rely on SNAP benefits each month to purchase food. Click here to read the whole article.

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Lynnwood, WA: The Foundation for Edmonds School District has received a generous grant of $240,000 from the Whitehorse Foundation to support Whole Families, Whole Communities (WFWC), a wraparound program connecting families to critical resources that helps students overcome barriers to academic success. 

This renewed funding from the Whitehorse Foundation will sustain 2.5 Family Resource Advocate (FRA) positions in district elementary schools and launch a pilot afterschool program at Alderwood Middle School. This investment will strengthen direct support for families experiencing housing instability, food insecurity, and other factors that impact their confidence, wellbeing and future opportunities. 

The Whitehorse Foundation has supported the program for seven years – since its launch in 2018. 

“The Whitehorse Foundation’s steady, heartfelt support, along with our dedicated collaborators, has helped to grow Whole Families, Whole Communities into a pillar of family assistance in the School District,” said Deborah Brandi, Executive Director, Foundation for Edmonds School District. 

Whole Families, Whole Communities connects families to critical services through a coordinated network of community partners and school-based staff. Since August 2024 alone, FRAs have supported more than 1,100 families, including nearly 200 students experiencing homelessness. From assistance with housing and legal advocacy to food access and mental health referrals, WFWC is a coordinated, compassionate response to the complex challenges facing students and families in poverty. 

The new afterschool pilot at Alderwood Middle School will provide tutoring, mentoring, leadership development, and enrichment activities, along with evening programs that support parents through ELL, parenting classes, counseling and assistance in navigating resources. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for this enduring partnership. The Whitehorse Foundation’s belief in this work has allowed us to meet families where they are, with the right resources, at the right time. Their investment has made real, lasting change possible,” said Deborah Brand, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. 

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