The Jefferson Foundation presents "Big Check" to Board of Education

June 5, 2009, Lakewood, CO ~ The Jefferson Foundation presented an end-of-year "Big Check" to Jeffco Schools Board of Education. The check represented over $324,500 in Foundation 2008-2009 funding. Mona Sandoval, Executive Director of the District's non-profit, reported on some of the year-end highlights.

- The Foundation's partnership with Mile High United Way and Jeffco Schools expanded the highly successful "Lights On After-School in Jeffco Public Schools" to programs at 5 core schools in the Jefferson High School articulation area, and provided mini-grants to 13 additional schools throughout Jeffco.

- The Jefferson Foundation continued to be the main sponsor of the West Chamber's Links for Learning program and Youth Leadership Jefferson County - two projects that connect schools and the community.

- The Salazar Literacy Fund, a fund of The Jefferson Foundation, partnered with the Wheat Ridge Rotary to distribute dictionaries and thesaurus to Wheat Ridge second and third grade student. Other literacy funding included a project for Jefferson County Public Library, early reading intervention for first and second graders, and new books for Devinny Elementary.

- The huge out-pouring of clothing donations to the Serving Kids program, enabled 1,020 students to receive clothing this year. Hours logged in this all-volunteer program were approximately 1,160.

- The Jefferson Foundation is a funding partner for the Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassador's for Youth, or AWRSAY. The at-risk teen recognition program acknowledged 114 students this year and awarded 25 scholarships to Red Rocks Community College.

Curtis Gilmore, retiring Jefferson Foundation Board member, was acknowledged for his volunteer efforts, as a founding member of AWRSAY and for establishing the Computers for Kids project, which has given over 1,600 refurbished computers to students. He continues to volunteer on Jeffco Schools Strategic Planning and Budget Committee, and was asked to join the Committee for the Life-Long Learning Center, which will tentatively be established at WarrenTech.

"The Jefferson Foundation is entering its 26th year serving as ambassadors for Jeffco Public Schools in the community," said Sandoval. "To date we have provided approximately $7.5 million in program support."

For more information contact: Anton Delgado, 303-982-2212 www.jeffersonfoundation.org