Ann Arbor school foundation looking to raise $1 million by end of July

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation has raised more than $60,000 in its first month of a campaign to raise a total of $1 million, officials said.

That includes a $50,000 challenge gift from one donor, foundation executive director Wendy Correll said in an e-mail.

The “One Million Reasons” campaign runs through July 31.

“Parents who have a child in our schools may be interested to know that the $1 million goal set by the Educational Foundation is an average of $60 per student per year, or about $5 per month. We are asking that families who can make a gift also consider giving on behalf of those who cannot,” Correll said.

The foundation has historically given grants to individual teachers and for district-wide programs through its “Initiatives for Excellence.” The money raised in the campaign will be used to support “programs that secure the margin of excellence in Ann Arbor’s nationally well-respected system,” the foundation said in a press release.

Gifts can be made online by visiting the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation website at www.supportannarborschools.org, or by sending a check payable to AAPSEF at 2555 S. State Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48104. Contributors can also arrange for a scheduled draft from their checking or credit card accounts by contacting foundation staff at 734-994-1969 to complete the necessary forms.

The foundation is an independent non-profit 501c3 organization that raises private money for the Ann Arbor school district.

David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.