Bonsall Education Foundation awards nearly $20,000 to schools

BONSALL – On Feb. 17, the Bonsall Education Foundation, a non-profit foundation that funds grants in support of academic excellence for the Bonsall Union School District (BUSD) announced the completion of their second grant cycle for the school year. The Foundation was pleased to award $19,563.74 during the first two grant cycles of the 2009-2010 academic year.

The Foundation supports all four district schools - Bonsall West, Bonsall Elementary, Vivian Banks Charter and Sullivan Middle School. The grants support programs for the music and performing arts, teaching excellence, classroom technology and health and wellness.

“We are thrilled with the momentum the foundation has built and we thank the many amazing community members who have supported our efforts,” said Erica Perko, president of the Bonsall Education Foundation. “When we started the Foundation in the fall of 2008 we hoped we would make a positive impact and while many of our dreams have been realized, we feel our work has just begun. We have great things in the planning stages that we hope will allow us to double the funds we grant to Bonsall schools each year,” she said.

The foundation’s good deeds have not gone unnoticed. In the fall of 2009, the Bonsall Education Foundation was named “Community Service Organization of the Year” by the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce. The success of the foundation’s first music benefit concert “Bonsallpalooza09” was held at the Pala Casino Resort & Spa in August 2009, and ended with attendees wanting more.

Thanks to the Pala Casino Resort & Spa their wishes have been granted and “Bonsallpalooza10” has been confirmed at Pala for Saturday, June 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event is in the planning stages and sponsors and volunteers are invited to join the cause.