Neighborhoods served by the summer meal program have high numbers of students qualifying for the federal free and reduced lunch program that provides meals during the school day. Last year, nearly 650 children in the Edmonds School District were homeless and nearly 6,600 students received free or reduced cost lunch.

“The reality for many families is that summer break squeezes an already tight budget forcing a choice between food and rent, gas or other necessities. The free summer meal program reduces child hunger in our community,” says Foundation Executive Director Deborah Anderson.

Children ages 5-18 are served a nutritious lunch and participate in a mini summer camp offering themed learning and physical activities. Community partners include: Sno-Isle Mobile Library Van, Experience Momentum, Move60!, and South Snohomish Fire & Rescue. Services are free to all participants and do not require pre-registration.

The Nourishing Network’s 2019 summer meal program will run Monday-Thursday from July 1st through August 22nd at four Lynnwood locations: Community Life Center, Martha Lake Baptist Church, Meadowdale Community Church and South Lynnwood Park.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding to support students, families and educators in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org

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In the Edmonds School District, more than 6,600 students qualify for the free and reduced lunch program, which provides breakfast and/or lunch during the school day. Summer meal sites are located in high-need neighborhoods where as many as 75 percent of children qualify.

“Families who rely on federal free and reduced meals during the school year often don’t have the income to pay for an additional 10 meals a week during the summer,” says Foundation Executive Director Deborah Anderson. “When school is not in session, children may go without breakfast and lunch. The free summer meal program reduces child hunger in our community.”

Children ages 5-18 are served a nutritious lunch and participate in a mini summer camp that offers themed physical and learning activities. Community partners include: Sno-Isle Mobile Library Van, Experience Momentum, Move60!, and South Snohomish Fire & Rescue. Services are free to all participants and do not require pre-registration.

The 2019 summer meal program will run Monday-Thursday from July 1^st through August 22^nd at four Lynnwood locations: Community Life Center, Martha Lake Baptist Church, Meadowdale Community Church and South Lynnwood Park.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding to support students, families and educators in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org

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• Made a fundamental and lasting impact on the education environment of the Edmonds School District and/or 

• Provided exemplary and positive leadership to students or staff and/or 

• Developed an innovative educational program or management system and/or 

• Been or are currently an educator in the Edmonds School District

In 1984, then-superintendent Hal Reasby created the Living Legend Awards to celebrate the District’s centennial and to recognize teachers and staff for exceptional contributions to the District’s educational environment. In the same year, he also established the Foundation for Edmonds School District (formerly Public Education Foundation) to raise supplemental funds for our schools.

Community members are invited to nominate a deserving teacher, principal or administrator for the 2019 Living Legend Awards. Recipients will be named and honored at the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony on May 23rd at Community Life Center, 19820 Scriber Lake Road, Lynnwood. Please submit written nominations by April 12th to Jennifer Amend.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding to support students, families and teachers in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org

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Financial assistance is available for college entrance and world language exams, College in the High School course fees, summer school credit recovery, and post-secondary scholarships for vocational, 2-year and 4-year programs. Last year, College Access for All served more than 3,000 high school students enrolled in the Edmonds School District.

“When we talk about equity in education, access to higher learning is part of that conversation. Without it students are denied opportunities for skilled employment and career choices later on,” said Deborah Anderson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “College Access for All helps to ensure that doors remain open for more of our students. We sincerely appreciate Wells Fargo Foundation’s investment in their futures.”

The Edmonds School District is Snohomish County’s largest public school district, serving more than 20,500 students across 35 schools. Nearly 33 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch and an estimated 600 will experience homelessness during the school year. Last year, the Foundation made more than $600,000 in district-wide program investments.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding to support students, families and educators in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org

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Funds raised will expand Foundation programs focused on career and college readiness, academic enrichment, and health and wellness across the Edmonds School District. Last year, total program investments exceeded $600,000 district-wide, benefiting students, families and teachers in 34 schools. 

Executive Director Deborah Anderson presented an overview of key programs and examples of innovative programs recently funded by the Foundation. These included a grant to commission an original work written collaboratively by a guest composer for Meadowdale High School music students; Pop-up Pantries at five school locations to serve families in need; and an elementary afterschool program that gives parents tools to support their children academically. Anderson emphasized the importance of community connections, telling attendees that “our programs are made possible by building bridges and community partnerships that support our students, families and educators. We thank you for your support.”

Guests also heard from Sophie Burbank, a senior at Mountlake Terrace High School and 2019 Presidential Scholars Program nominee. She has received numerous STEM and TSA awards, and holds leadership posts in the Technical Students Association both at school and the state level. In her remarks, Burbank credits Career & Technical Education and STEM programs with providing an “exploratory environment” that has helped her discover academic and leadership roles that she’s “passionate about and excels at.”  

Superintendent Kris McDuffy recognized community leaders and nearly 30 corporate sponsors in attendance. She also thanked district teachers and staff for their hard work and commitment to educational excellence. Dr. McDuffy described the Foundation as a “vital partner, working in tandem with us to build relationships that move us closer to our shared goal of better student outcomes.”

Recipe for Success is the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser which this year included breakfast and lunch programs. Guests heard performances by award-winning Four of Hearts jazz combo and a string quartet from Edmonds-Woodway High School, known for exceptional music education. A demonstration by Mountlake Terrace High School’s world-ranked Robotics Team 1778 showcased excellence in STEM learning. Mark Madison, director of Career & Technical Education, was on hand to talk with business representatives about the district’s Career Connected Learning initiatives.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding and programs that support students, families and teachers in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org

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The awards are:

• Outstanding Community Advocate Award: Peter Hallson, Edmonds Bicycle Advocacy Group
• Innovative Program Award: Community Health Center of Snohomish County for its initiative to certify all providers in Medication-Assisted Treatment Program
• Service to Our Community Award: Neighbors in Need
• Community Collaboration Award: Whole Families, Whole Communities program of the Foundation for Edmonds School District

Verdant Superintendent Dr. Robin Fenn presented the awards with Verdant commissioners Dr. Jim Distelhorst, Bob Knowles, and Fred Langer. She shared that those honored were deserving because of their selfless dedication to others’ well-being, among many other attributes.

“We come together annually to celebrate the many strengths of our community and recognize these outstanding examples of service to others,” Fenn said. “One reason South Snohomish County is special is because of the care and compassion shown by so many, and it is a privilege to recognize these leaders in their fields.”

Outstanding Community Advocate Award

Edmonds resident Peter Hallson is a staunch advocate for bicycling and improving access to safe, active forms of transportation in our community, Fenn said. He was a leader in bringing the Let’s Go riding education program to the Edmonds School District several years ago in partnership with Cascade Bicycle Club in an effort to increase both the safety and knowledge of young riders. He often meets with policymakers locally and in Olympia to engage in discussions about the need for safe transportation.

This award was created to recognize individuals who work in support of others to address a health need in our community. The honorees over the years have worked to highlight positive change, Fenn said, and Hallson’s enthusiastic desire to improve his community shows in his advocacy work and civic engagement.

Innovative Program Award

At Community Health Center of Snohomish County (CHC), they recognized the growing need to address the opioid epidemic facing our community. CHC has worked to ensure that each medical provider be certified in the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program, and it is this initiative that earned them the Innovative Program Award, which is given annually to organizations that bring new and creative ideas to health programming, trying something different in an effort to impact health in ways they have not attempted before.

Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death in Americans under the age of 50, and fortunately there are ways to support this growing issue, Fenn said. While the ability to prescribe Suboxone (a medication used to treat individuals with opioid dependence) is highly regulated, it improves remission rates and reduces medical complications and overdose deaths. CHC is a leader in the primary care field for working to ensure improved access to this form of treatment, Fenn said. In addition to its direct patient work, CHC is also working to reduce the stigma surrounding opioid use disorders, speaking with groups and promoting the program in general in the community.

Service to Our Community Award

Neighbors in Need is the winner of the service award, which goes to individuals or organizations who go above and beyond in service to others, working to support the health and well-being of other people and/or organizations in our community. The award was accepted by Trinity Lutheran Church Pastor Hector Garfias-Toledo, who was joined by Neighbors in Need board members Sharon Bloch, John Boone, Paula Brooks, Chris Frizzell, and Joan Jolly.

You can expect to find dozens of volunteers coming together to support homeless and housing insecure individuals and families in South Snohomish County at Neighbors in Need’s Saturday morning program. Someone can find a hot breakfast, a 3-day supply of food, toiletries, used clothing, showers, laundry services, social service supports, and a caring person for conversation at the Listening Table. The tireless work done to support these vulnerable individuals in our community is what true compassion and service represents, and Verdant is proud to recognize the important work done at Neighbors in Need, Fenn said.

Community Collaboration Award

The Whole Families, Whole Communities program of the Foundation for Edmonds School District is the recipient of the collaboration award, given to organizations that partner with others to be responsive to our community’s health and wellness needs. Winners of this award recognize that more can be accomplished by working with others, creating unique partnerships that make their work more effective and efficient.

Since 2018, this program has been in place to make it easier for families in the Edmonds School District experiencing poverty or housing insecurity to access a robust suite of community resources. This collaborative program includes the Foundation, the Edmonds School District, Edmonds Community College, the University of Washington Bothell School of Nursing and Health Studies, Latino Education Training Institute, North Sound Church, Edmonds Family Medicine, HomeStreet Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and Nourishing Network.

When school staff encounters a family struggling to meet a basic need, they can connect with Whole Families, Whole Communities to line up coordinated support desired by the family. Past examples have included partnering with a repair shop to fix a high school student’s bike that he depended upon to get to school and around town, and with organizations providing financial literacy or job training skills to help create stability for the family unit.

This example of collaboration shows that building community often comes down to trust, Fenn said, noting that when we work together, we can accomplish so much more.

The Verdant Healthier Community Conference drew approximately 200 people, representing healthcare, social services, and community providers who support community health. This 4th-annual event is brought to South Snohomish County by the Verdant Health Commission, with support from: Kaiser Permanente, Premera Blue Cross, Coordinated Care, Edmonds Community College, Amerigroup, Community Health Plan of Washington, Community Transit, Foster Pepper, The Herald Media, Molina Healthcare, Puget Sound Kidney Centers, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Swedish Edmonds, and the University of Washington Bothell’s School of Nursing and Health Studies.

About the Verdant Health Commission:

The Verdant Health Commission funds a wide range of programs that empower people in South Snohomish County to make healthy decisions and get the care they need to stay well. For nearly half a century, we served the health needs of our community by managing the local community hospital. We are now focused on investing in innovative programs that will make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of South Snohomish County residents, with many free or low-cost education and prevention classes taking place at the Verdant Community Wellness Center in Lynnwood.

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“The effects of undernourishment on a child’s school performance and long-term health and wellness are understood” said Deborah Anderson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “The Nourishing Network began as a weekend meal program but has grown, as the needs in our district have grown, to include coordinated, comprehensive supports for more than 250 of our most vulnerable students and their families. We thank The Rite Aid Foundation for helping to fund these essential services with this grant.”

The Nourishing Network was created in partnership with and at the request of the Edmonds School District to provide meals and services to hungry and homeless students and their families. Programs include Weekend Meal Kits, Summer Meals Program, Pop-Up Pantries, and holiday meals. Almost 33 percent of students in the Edmonds School District are eligible for free or reduced lunch and an estimated 600 will experience homelessness during the school year.

The KidCents Regional Grant Program, which provides grants of $15,000-$30,000, significantly expands the reach of KidCents by funding specific out-of-school-time programs focused on children’s nutrition, physical fitness and academic success. The KidCents program also annually supports a select group of more than 400 nonprofit, kid-focused organizations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of children living in the communities Rite Aid serves and national organizations focused on critical children’s issues, including The Fred Rogers Company, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Folds of Honor.

“We created the KidCents program to ensure that kids have a chance for better lives and brighter futures,” said Tracy Henderson, director of The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives. “With the introduction of the KidCents Regional Grant program, we are expanding our efforts even more while filling a need for valuable out-of-school-time programming. In addition, we are enabling our partner nonprofit organizations to implement innovative, ground-breaking programs that advance children’s health and wellbeing and promote academic growth.”

KidCents Regional Grants support nonprofit organizations with programs that serve children, from newborn to 18 years of age, and improve the quality of life in Rite Aid communities.The grants support three of KidCents’ primary focus areas for improving the health and wellbeing of children: healthy eating, active living and education.

Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid’s loyalty program, wellness+ rewards,can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of more than 400 nonprofit organizations focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com.

Since its inception in 2001, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded more than $50 million to nonprofit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $87 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994. 

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has supported students, teachers and schools by putting money raised where it enhances student learning the most — directly into schools and classrooms. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation successfully provides Edmonds School District with a dynamic partnership in educating our children. www.foundationesd.org

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The grant will expand the Foundation’s College Access for All Program, which reduces barriers to higher education through stipends and scholarships for low-income students. Financial assistance is available for college entrance and world language exams, College in the High School course fees, summer school credit recovery, and post-secondary scholarships for vocational, 2-year and 4-year programs. Last year, College Access for All served more than 3,000 high school students enrolled in the Edmonds School District.

“It’s a known fact that access to education after high school has become a prerequisite for skilled employment and careers of the future,” said Deborah Anderson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “Underwriting the cost of exams, college-credit courses, summer school and post-secondary tuition is a common-sense approach that opens doors for more of our students. We thank The Norcliffe Foundation for supporting them with this generous grant.”

The Edmonds School District is Snohomish County’s largest public school district, serving more than 20,200 students across 35 schools. Nearly 33% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch and an estimated 600 will experience homelessness during the school year. Last year, the Foundation made more than $600,000 in district-wide program investments.

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has supported students, teachers and schools by putting money raised where it enhances student learning the most — directly into schools and classrooms. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation successfully provides Edmonds School District with a dynamic partnership in educating our children. www.foundationesd.org

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“Inspirus has a long history of investing in public education and strong communities throughout Washington State. We are honored to be among the organizations it supports,” said Deborah Anderson, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “Partnerships are at the heart of the Foundation’s 35-year history, so I’m pleased to count Inspirus among our partners as we continue to implement programs designed to ensure that every student in our district has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community.”

The Edmonds School District is Snohomish County’s largest public school district, serving more than 20,200 students across 35 schools. Nearly 33% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch and an estimated 600 will experience homelessness during the school year. Last year, the Foundation made more than $600,000 in district-wide program investments.

Inspirus Credit Union, which recently announced its intent to merge with Gesa Credit Union, has more than 80,000 members and $1 billion in assets. Established in 1936, Inspirus’ vision is to be a financial services organization most valued for its contributions to education.

“It is evident that the Foundation for Edmonds School District creatively and effectively bridges barriers to school success,” said Pamela Shelp, Community Engagement & Partnership Coordinator, Inspirus Credit Union. “Our two organizations share a common belief that quality public schools and secure families make for thriving communities. This gift is an investment in those priorities.”

For 35 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has supported students, teachers and schools by putting money raised where it enhances student learning the most — directly into schools and classrooms. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation successfully provides Edmonds School District with a dynamic partnership in educating our children. www.foundationesd.org  

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The Nourishing Network Summer Meal Program, made possible through the support of Verdant and other community partners, is a collaborative effort to feed children and to engage them in health and wellness activities over long summer months. Free lunches are provided by FareStart, through the YMCA. Experience Momentum, Edmonds School District’s Move60! Program and Swedish Edmonds are also on hand to facilitate guided activi

ties.

The program runs Monday through Thursday, from June 25 through August 23, and is open to any children, ages 5

through 18. Each day, children will receive lunch, participate in activities and games, and learn about healthy lifestyle choices. To learn more about the Summer Meals program, please see the program page for more details. 

“We are fortunate to be able to provide this valuable service to our local families and feel gratitude to community partners who are supporting this program,” said Foundation Executive Director, Deb Anderson

The Nourishing Network program is a series of meals program to help feed Edmonds School District students and families who are experiencing homelessness or in emerging crisis situations. Currently, there are over 600 homeless students, and, on average, 7,900 families are on free and reduced lunch programs. Often these students leave school Friday and do not have another meal until Monday morning.

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