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Oakland Small Schools Foundation, dedicated to supporting small Oakland schools
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Now More Than Ever - Invest in Oakland's Public Schools

April 28, 2008

Dear Supporter of Public Education and Oakland’s Public Schools,

You have seen the headlines. State budget cuts threaten to gut our already struggling public schools. These cuts will have little impact on the affluent schools of Oakland -- it’s the flatland public schools we must worry about, where families do not have the resources they need to support school programs.

Many of the schools in Oakland’s high-poverty neighborhoods are small schools -- those converted from larger over-crowded, under-performing schools through the district’s Small Schools Policy instituted in 1999. These small-by-design schools feature innovative philosophies, entrepreneurial leaders, and personal attention for each student. Though many are only two years old, these 47 schools show the promise of providing a successful learning environment for low-income kids in our city.

At the Oakland Small Schools Foundation (OSSF), we are dedicated to promoting excellence in these small schools so that all of our Oakland students can get a great public school education and an equal opportunity to excel, finish high school, and go on to college or a successful career.

Won’t you help us? In the past four years, OSSF has raised more than $3.5 million for school programs -- we turn each dollar you invest in OSSF’s operations into five dollars for schools. Here’s how:

  • When you invest $100 in OSSF, we raise $500 for extra lab supplies.
  • When you invest $250 in OSSF, we develop $1,250 in funds for books.
  • When you invest $500 in OSSF, we raise $2,500 for college tours and field trips.
  • When you invest $2,000 in OSSF, we secure $10,000 for arts and music programs.

    Your tax-deductible contribution supports the expert OSSF staff as they work with schools to develop marketing plans, write grants, launch individual giving campaigns, manage budgets, and support school site operations.

    OSSF is the only organization that provides all of these professional services to schools serving low-income students in Oakland. While we earn about $200,000 from foundations and businesses, we need to raise an additional $50,000 match this year from individuals to meet our goals for school services. We are about halfway there, and you can help us now with the other half.

    Please take this opportunity to partner with us in developing excellent schools and helping our kids realize the dream of a great education. Visit us online to make a donation or to find out more about our work and Oakland’s small schools. Working together, we can prepare every child for a successful future. Thank you!

    Sincerely,
    Holly Babe Faust
    Executive Director

    Click here for a printable version of this letter.


    • photo this page: Mural at TCN