The Ferndale Public Schools Foundation is only a few months into its existence, but the team has already found many avenues to bridge the gaps for local students. This is thanks to the hard work of the Foundation team, as well as the generosity of the Ferndale community, who have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the organization already.

“We are fueled by the overwhelming support from our community partners and donors who share our belief in the potential of our students,” said Foundation board member Dr. Sislena Ledbetter. “Thanks to these partnerships, we've already provided vital financial support to numerous students, covering expenses such as test fees, clothing, food, and other essential student items.”

The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is separate from Ferndale School District, was founded this summer with the goal of helping Ferndale students in need of additional support by removing fees, offering scholarships, and paying for necessary materials. Its mission is “Removing financial barriers so students can soar.”

One specific way the Foundation has helped is by covering the cost of sports physicals for students at FHS.

“These are kids that have never been able to enjoy playing, and really wanted to learn, but all these barriers were lingering,” said Andrea Tafoya, the Latinx Student Support at FHS. “Fortunately, the Foundation took away that barrier for us and they’re able to now play.”

Individual Board members also covered the fees for three students to attend the CASHE (Children of Aztlan Sharing Higher Education) Conference at Washington State University last month. This is a leadership conference for Latinx students, and an opportunity for them to gain access to higher education, said Tafoya.

“To see other students of color at a university, the impact is really big,” she said. “This shows the extent of how much the Foundation Board members are willing to help.”

The Foundation also helped the Ferndale Kiwanis Club launch Builders’ Club leadership groups in Ferndale’s middle schools. Because Kiwanis isn’t officially a 501(c)(3) non-profit, they couldn’t accept a grant to pay for the setup costs of the club. The Foundation stepped in, accepted the grant, and will cover those costs.

“Hopefully this program will help students discover their potential to make a difference in their community,” said Ferndale Kiwanis President Kathy Young.

Dr. Ledbetter said she’s seen great enthusiasm from the Ferndale community about the Foundation and is hoping that even more folks will join in to help local students.

“A proverb wisely states, ‘Many hands make for light work,’” she said. “We are thrilled to invite many more hands to join in this collective effort, enabling us to remove financial barriers for even more students in Ferndale School District. Let’s go!”

To learn more about the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation or donate, visit https://www.ferndaleschoolsfoundation.org/ or contact Volunteer Executive Director Tracy Diehl at (360)201-8168.