parents, grandparents, LASD alumni, community members and local businesses - and the strong partnership with LASD and PTAs to invest in our students and their futures. On behalf of the LAEF board and staff, we thank you for your generosity and support in helping LAEF grant $2.53M to LASD during the 2022-23 school year. Your donation to LAEF is an investment in LASD’s neighborhood schools and allows LASD to provide a high quality well-rounded education that includes art, music, library, STEM and computer science, PE in all seven elementary schools, and rich electives in the two junior high schools. The best part is seeing students, parents and staff - our community - come together at STEM Expos, art shows, and the beloved Junior Olympics. 

To celebrate LAEF’s 40th anniversary, LAEF and LASD co-hosted a community festival filled with fun activities led by each of the nine LASD schools and some community groups, plus yummy food trucks. LASD administrators and trustees were on hand to meet and greet families - including new families. It was truly a collaborative effort. At the event we met one LAEF’s founders and our first president, Duane Roberts, who shared about LAEF’s start in 1982. His retelling of LAEF’s beginnings reminded us of the importance of continuing the good work the founders started and having a long-range view of being here for LASD students for another 40 years. 

With that spirit in mind, LAEF launched its innovation grant this year and provided a $25K grant to LASD to refresh the junior high electives. It was meaningful to hear a spring school board presentation from junior high school students who took the new electives - their engagement with broadcasting and e-sports was palpable in the room.   

This was also the year LAEF and its PTA colleagues collaborated and worked tirelessly to streamline the back-to-school donation process. Thanks to many parent volunteers across all nine LASD schools whose efforts in the past 4 years helped to get us to this point. We’re excited to see how this streamlined process goes in the 2023-24 school year. 

It is your continued support that sustains and enriches LASD’s excellent educational program beyond what public funding provides. We thank you for your commitment to LAEF’s vision that all LASD students receive an exceptional education, preparing them to achieve their highest potential and in doing so contribute back to a vibrant community. 

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With gratitude,
Amy Wang, 2022-23 LAEF Board President
Heather Macdonald, LAEF Executive Director