Fall 2026 Newsletter | Issue 2
Building a stronger future for our STUDENTS
We are excited to share an update on the progress of the West Linn-Wilsonville School Foundation and the incredible support we have received from our community since our launch.
A Successful Launch Gala
Our inaugural Foundation Gala in May 2026 was an extraordinary success. Thanks to the generosity of our community, sponsors, and supporters, the event generated a net gain of $153,000 to support our mission of strengthening educational opportunities for students across the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this milestone possible. Your generosity has given the Foundation a strong start from which to begin making a meaningful difference in our schools.
Please save the date for our next Foundation Gala: May 7, 2027. More information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, and tickets will be coming soon.
An Extraordinary Commitment to Our Mission
We are also thrilled to announce a significant commitment from an anonymous donor’s Charitable Fund.
The Fund has committed $25,000 annually for the next three years, for a total of $75,000 in support of the West Linn-Wilsonville School Foundation and our mission.
This extraordinary commitment is an important vote of confidence in the work we are doing and will help expand our ability to invest in opportunities that directly benefit students and educators throughout our district.
We are deeply grateful for this generous partnership.
Listening Before We Invest
As a new Foundation, we believe it is essential that our funding decisions reflect the needs and priorities of the students, families, and educators we serve.
Over the past several months, Foundation representatives have met with West Linn-Wilsonville School District leadership and representatives from the teachers' union to better understand the needs within our schools and gather input about how Foundation funds could have the greatest impact.
These conversations have been incredibly detailed and valuable and have helped us better understand the opportunities and challenges facing our schools.
At this time, Foundation funds cannot yet be distributed to the School District because we are in the process of finalizing our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the District. As a reminder, the Foundation is entirely independent and separate from the school District. Once our agreement is finalized, we will be in a position to move forward with the next steps in our funding process.
We Want to Hear From You
Before we begin allocating Foundation funds, we want to hear directly from our community. Parents and caregivers have a unique perspective on the needs of our students, and your input will help inform the Foundation's priorities as we determine how best to allocate the funds entrusted to us.
We have created three surveys so that families can share their perspectives based on the age and educational experience of their children.
Parents of Primary School Students
Parents of Middle School Students
Parents of High School Students
We encourage all parents and caregivers to take the survey that best represents the age group of their children. Your feedback will help us ensure that our funding decisions are thoughtful, responsive, and aligned with the needs of our students and schools. Please note, the survey will close on November 20, 2026.
Looking Ahead
The Foundation was created because we believe our community can come together to create additional opportunities for students and educators in the West Linn-Wilsonville School District.
We are just getting started.
From the success of our first Gala, to the generous commitment from an anonymous donor’s Charitable Fund, to the conversations we are having with District and teacher representatives, we are building the base for a strong and sustainable organization.
Most importantly, we want this Foundation to be a reflection of our entire community. Your ideas, feedback, generosity, and participation will help shape the work we do for years to come.
Thank you for believing in our students, supporting our schools, and joining us as we build something meaningful together.
With gratitude,
Karla Brashear,
President and Board Member
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