Park City Education Foundation on Thursday announced a new, annual parent-appeal fundraising campaign: Give $360 to Build the Foundation to provide Park City School District schools with 360 degrees of support. “Many families don’t know Utah is the lowest funded public education system in the country,” said Ingrid Whitley, president and CEO of the foundation. “On top of that, $170 million of Park City’s state education tax dollars leave to fund other state education needs.”The education foundation said in a press release that the organization infuses more than 1.5 million dollars into schools. “This money funds programs that impact every single PCSD student, every single year,” the release said. “The programs our students love and need — and that parents depend on — like art and STEM programs, classroom grants requested by innovative teachers, and more, are funded by donations to PCEF,” Whitley said. “In fact, PCEF programs help lift our district to one of the best in the state.” Build the Foundation replaces Beat the Call, and the foundation called the new campaign a friendly fundraising competition based on parent participation. The campaign asks parents to contribute $2 per school day, or $30 per month. Parents can also join Scholar Circle with a gift of $1,000 or more per year, but the foundation emphasized that any donation of $1 or more counts to Build the Foundation. “PCEF support has been unquestionably a defining factor in student and teacher support and success,” said Lisa Hebert, PCSD Teacher. “The programs help to raise the achievement of students and narrow the attainment and opportunity gap by giving access to all levels of various subjects, which allows students to strengthen and progress at their own speed.” Build the Foundation runs Sept. 23 to Oct. 4. Gifts given at the Red Apple Gala, on Oct. 5, will also count toward the campaign’s total. Schools with the highest percentage of parent donations can win one of three cash grants, each worth thousands of dollars, the foundation said, from UPS Stores Park City and pizza or breakfast parties. “It’s so nice to have this widespread community support. [PCEF] promotes our profession and puts teaching in the spotlight,” said Lesley Rockwood, PCSD teacher. “PCEF brings recognition and puts the focus on teachers and students, and what’s most important in the classroom.”“It is a joy to see Park City come together every year to ensure every student succeeds,” said Jennifer Billow, the foundation’s vice president of advancement. “When you give to PCEF, whether it’s one dollar or $10,000, you Build the Foundation for our students to reach their academic and lifelong potential.”The post Park City Education Foundation launches new fundraising campaign, ‘Give $360 to Build the Foundation’ appeared first on Park Record.