By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
With school back in swing for the 2024-25 academic year, fundraising efforts to support charter schools across Pacific Palisades are now underway.
Photo by Rieko Takagi
Canyon Charter Elementary School
Friends of Canyon Charter Elementary School
When it comes to supporting programming at Canyon Charter Elementary School, the community is invited to give back through Friends of Canyon Charter Elementary School.
“With dramatic cuts in our state education budget and the global pandemic forcing the closure of our campus and hindering our ability to hold fundraising events, Canyon seeks contributions from generous families, community members, local businesses and grants to help raise much-needed funds for instructional and enrichment programs,” read the Friends of Canyon website.
Contributions help fund 60% of instructional aides for each classroom, as well as 100% of the P.E. program (including instructor’s salary and equipment); art, music and drama instructors; digital learning instructor and 1:1 Chromebooks for each student; reading specialist; science teacher and dedicated science lab; and one full-time upper-grade teacher, which helps reduce class size.
Throughout the year, Canyon hosts fundraising events, like the annual Canyon Fiesta on May 18, 2025, with games, food and entertainment, which dates back decades to help support the school.
Other events include the Party Book launch event at Golden Bull on September 27, where parents will purchase tickets to attend and sign up for parties that will take place over the 2024-25 academic year, with proceeds supporting Canyon.
The school’s annual Olympics Day is scheduled for November 22.
“We greatly appreciate your financial support,” the website read, “and please know that 100% of funds raised by Canyon Booster go right back to our students.”
Marquez Charter Elementary School
Friends of Marquez
Friends of Marquez is a nonprofit run by parents “to fund supplemental educational programs to enrich the curriculum of basic education” at Marquez Charter Elementary School.
Some of the programming supported by FOM includes additional teachers—two full-time classroom teachers, including a dedicated science teacher.
“The majority of the FOM budget goes towards additional teachers and staff,” read the FOM website. “This reduces class sizes and lowers our teacher-student ratio. It also helps us to avoid combining grade levels.”
Funding also supports hourly in-class aides; P.E. and karate; art and music; gardening with EnrichLA; robotics; and fifth-grade musicals. Marquez added a third kindergarten class for the 2024-25 academic year.
In November 2023, Marquez revealed a renovated garden space, which was accomplished through a partnership with EnrichLA, which builds, cares for and teaches in “organic regenerative” school gardens throughout the area. FOM said the garden has been “a huge hit,” and that it “grew an incredible amount of vegetables over the summer.”
FOM is planning a Halloween Festival with a haunted house, carnival games, pumpkins and prizes on Sunday, October 20, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the campus, as well as several other events throughout the year.
“Let’s work together to build this amazing Marquez community,” the FOM website—which was recently redesigned—read.
Palisades Charter Elementary School
Palisades Enrichment Programs
Palisades Charter Elementary School is supported by the efforts of PEP—Palisades Enrichment Programs, a parent-run organization.
“Pali Elementary is a California Distinguished School and one of LAUSD’s top schools due in large part to parental involvement and generous donations,” read the PEP website. “Please help our school maintain this status and support our children in their educational journey.”
The parent-led Pali Giving Fundraising Campaign kicked off in August with community, business and alumni sponsorship opportunities.
PEP uses the funds it raises to “hire additional teachers and teacher’s aides,” “effectively reducing class size, providing teachers with critical support in class, and enabling core enrichment classes,” according to its website. Some of these “core enrichments” are music, tech, a garden and P.E.
PEP is planning its annual Yee Haw Fall Festival, which will take place on September 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the school. The fundraising afternoon will have food vendors, game and craft booths, an obstacle course, corn maze, and more. There will be a photo booth, balloon twist, and performances by Fancy Feet and Palisades Studio.
“Our goal through Yee Haw Day is to connect with our community on a personal level and create supportive partnerships with local businesses and organizations,” read the Yee Haw Day website. “The Palisades is made up of so many families, and we take pride in knowing that many have or will attend our school.”
The school’s annual Gala and Auction will take place on February 7, 2025.
Palisades Charter High School
The PCHS Fund and Palisades High School Booster Club
Palisades Charter High School is supported by The PCHS Fund and Palisades High School Booster Club.
“The PCHS Fund supports the annual budget of PCHS and directly impacts students, faculty and staff,” according to Pali High. “This ensures the sustainability of our important core programs where state and federal funding fall short and gives each student every opportunity to succeed.”
This includes academic counseling, the College Center, team competition transportation (athletics and clubs), math aides, tutoring and technology.
“The Palisades High School Booster Club focuses on the immediate needs of our students not covered by the school’s budget,” read the Pali High website. “These include innovative academic programs, field trips, visual and performing arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities.”
Some of the programs supported by the booster club are the Robotics Club (equipment and materials for Vex Robotics Competition), Drama (supplementing three productions) and Gymnasium (championship banners). In the past year, the club supported a projector/screen for Mercer Hall, Model UN, girls and boys lacrosse, the Senior Class Picnic, and more.
There is an annual auction/gala fundraising event that takes place in spring.
givebutter.com/PCHSFund; palihighboosterclub.com/donate
Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center
PRIDE Booster Club
PRIDE Booster Club—the parent-teacher organization that supports Paul Revere Charter Middle School and Magnet Center—stands for Parent Resources for Individual Development and Enrichment.
“Our school offerings, curriculum and technology are all geared to give our kids a solid foundation for future success,” read the PRIDE website. “These include exceptional programs in orchestra, band and choir; journalism, yearbook and photography; first-rate physical education and athletic teams; lunch clubs; and even a working farm.”
Some of the programming supported by PRIDE includes a pending renovation of the school auditorium, the annual Literary Anthology, Reflections Art Contest and Student Film Festival, and campus beautification projects.
In addition to collecting funds, PRIDE also hosts fundraising events during the year, like an auction event in spring.
“Your support is crucial to maintain all the wonderful programs that PRMS offers,” read a flyer about PRIDE, which has a goal of raising 50% of its total annual ask by Thanksgiving.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
