Redwood High School Foundation | Questioons & Answers


	What is the Academic Support Fund? The Academic Support Fund branch of the Foundation functions to grant money to areas of Academics, Arts, Student Programs and Campus Beautification efforts. We are an all volunteer panel of Parents, Teachers, Students and Administrators who meet twice a year to review grant applications and vote on which ones to fund. Here’s how the process works: Each fall and each spring, applications are sent out to all staff members at Redwood. Parents and Students are also eligible to fill out grant applications. The applications are reviewed by Principal Neu for merit and whether other sources of funding may be available. Then, the applicants present their requests to the Allocation Panel which consists of 2 Administrators, 2 Teachers, 4 students (one from each grade level, 2 boys and 2 girls) and 4 Parents (one from each grade level and ideally one from each feeder school). The panel then has a chance to ask questions of the applicant and gather further information about how the grant money will be spent. After reviewing and discussing each grant application on its own individual merit, the Allocation Panel votes on whether to fund each grant. The Allocation Panel volunteers serve for two years, half of the panel turning over each year to provide some continuity. If you are a parent or a student who is interested in serving in this capacity, please contact one of the Allocation Panel Co-Chairs at the beginning of the school year. Why should I give to Redwood? It sure seems to have everything I would want for my kids without my donation. Redwood is funded by federal and state funds – the same as the other four high schools in the Tam Union H.S. District. District funding is done primarily on a per student basis. Yet, Redwood is the largest of the 5 high schools in our District and has some unique needs. Your child has been benefiting form Foundation funding of those areas not in the district budget. The nice part of a Foundation donation is that all funds to the RHSF stay at Redwood, and are invested within the year they are donated. They are used to provide experiences and opportunities that would otherwise not be available to our students. Who determines how RHSF allocates parent donations? There are multiple allocation panels that decide how to allocate the foundation funds each year. All are made up of parents, teachers, administrators and students. The Support Fund Panel represents the largest amount of money from the Foundation – approximately $450,000/year. This panel meets twice per year to review grand applications for all departments at Redwood as well as campus improvements. Grant applicants present to this panel, which then discusses and votes to approve grants to those applicants whom the panel believes are most deserving in a given calendar year. Similarly, Benchwarmers Panel reviews athletic grant requests and the Scholarship Panel reviews candidates for post secondary school grants. How much should I give? Our primary goal is to increase participation to a significantly higher level, so we are asking each Redwood parent to read the brochure and find a giving level that is meaningful and right for your family’s budget. Our recommended giving level is $900 per student, and for families who can afford to give more, we invite them to give at one of the higher recognition levels shown in the brochure. Of course, all gifts are tax deductible as RHSF is a 501 (x) (3) non-profit organization. How did the Foundation determine $900 per child as the recommended giving level? As you know there is a gap between what the state provides for high school education and what we want our student’s experience to include. The Foundation was founded to supplement state funds by making money available through grants to teachers, administrators, students, and coaches. Redwood parents come from K-8 school districts that average between $840 - $3,000/child in donations. Las year, Redwood parents averaged only $420/child – yet the Foundation allocated over $600,000 to augment the school budgets. Given the range of departmental requests and the large number of students playing sports at Redwood, Foundation dollars have been counted on to keep programs going. To support a well-rounded education in the high school years, we ask Redwood parents to think about giving at levels closer their K-8 experience. I already gave to something else at Redwood – why should I give to the RHSF? Thank you for your generosity in supporting Redwood. While your generous donation will certainly support this specific activity for your child, only a donation to the RHSF will support the many activities and departments that contribute to your child’s ability to get a superior, well-rounded education at Redwood. If I give $450 to something else at Redwood and $450 to the RHSF, will I receive acknowledgement for a $900 donation at RHSF? No, there is no way for us to track other programs to which parents may contribute. We recognize those donors who contribute to the Foundation in support of: 1) the Academic Departments; 2) the Arts; 3) Athletics; 4) Scholarship; and 5) Campus Improvements. We hope you will consider generously supporting the RHSF this year.