In the face of state budget cuts, disappearing programs, and a lack of resources, the very things that make our public schools special are being threatened. The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is took a bold stand. We aimed to raise one million dollars to help fund some of the very programs that could disappear.
The campaign was a great success! Thanks to the several hundred donors for their support. We are still counting pledges and gifts, but anticipate total of $325,000 plus challenge grant funding. This represents more than The Foundation has ever raised in an annual period.
But hurry, you can still make your contribution and have it count! It's never been more important to give. We can't solve everything. But together we can all be part of the solution. Donate online now.
As many of us know, the fall 2009 county-wide millage did not pass. Consider donating the amount you were willing to pay through a Millage “Yes” vote as seen below. It won’t solve the budget shortfalls. But it will take us one step closer to keeping our schools innovative and excellent. 100% of your money will stay in Ann Arbor.
We expect current and prospective donors may wish to conduct diligence research on our fiscal health, granting policy, and program impact. Our Financial Review page is provided to inform donors and community members of our activities. Please contact us with any questions.
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Mr. Tom Clarkson, 2nd grade teacher at King |
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I voted for the millage |
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the great work of our teachers |
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Our 4 kids went through the A2 Public Schools K-12; I was a substitute librarian in the 1980s |
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To maintain/increase the value of our home. |
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I support the Million Reasons campaign because public education is so interconnected with so many facets of our community. In addition to giving our children the education they deserve, it contributes to the overall economic vitality of our community. |
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The breadth and depth of programs in Ann Arbor is superior. |
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The environmental science program is terrific! I would hate to see any element of it eliminated or reduced. |
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Strong schools create a strong community. |
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The arts need to stay alive - theater, music, painting... |
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Sarah, Jacob, Carli |
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Our great teachers need and deserve the support. |
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Because I want the same things for all other AAPS students as I do for my children |
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Because they determine the future...and because they deserve public support |
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Because when I moved here from Columbus to do my senior year at Huron, I knew I'd been saved! |
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I am witness to the benefits enriching activities bring to the minds of young people. The difference between my own education elsewhere, and that of my children's education in Ann Arbor, is vastly different. |
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The Ann Arbor Public Schools are great for college prep. The teachers provided great study habits so my kids didn't get overwhelmed by the rigors of college courses. No repeated courses, no costly W's or "incompletes." In addition, taking AP courses in high school saved thousands of dollars in college tuition for my kids. Our schools are great! |
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"Cut down on education and give up on the future." A new Indian saying |
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Kelsey, Josh & Jennna |
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To help celebrate Bob and Amy Dittmar's 40th birthday! |
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We are donating to support AAPS -- especially wonderful Burns Park and Tappan Middle Schools! We also donate to celebrate Bob and Amy Dittmar's 40th birthday! |
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Every poor villager in every part of the world scrimps and saves every penny to send their kids to school because they know that education is the key to success and upward mobility. Yet when asked to give an extra $150 or $200 every year to keep our school programs like band running, and keep class sizes below 40, Washtenaw County voters made lame excuses why this was too much money or the schools should do more with less. Give me a break. Please take my money and educate our kids. |
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My daughter attends Angell Elementary |
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To maintain quality education |
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To maintain quality level of education |
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We are the parents of Eric and Alan |
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I was a former staff member at Forsythe and Huron |
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We feel music and the arts are very important to our children's educational experience and we want to see those areas funded well to prevent any changes in the programs that are already in place in the Ann Arbor Schools. |
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The legislature appears incapable of funding education. |
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Belief in the arts |
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I care about Ann Arbor and kids |
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3 children in the school system |
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The music programs and foreign language classes available to every AAPS student. |
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My children experience the world in the tiny microcosm of Ann Arbor Public Schools. AAPS is what the world will look like for their generation! |
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Belief in the arts. |
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The legislature appears to be incapable of funding education. |
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To maintain/increase the value of our home. |
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Important for our future |
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Kids in the system |
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It's our future |
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Education |
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Our children are our future |
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good public schools are the foundation of functioning democracy |
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Who needs a reason? |
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Excellent Schools and want them to remain that way |
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Children in school system |
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Community Strength |
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My children have gone to Ann Arbor public schools-we have all benefited |
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Reality |
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Teacher advocacy |
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Have children going through the public school system and want to support it |
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My children go there |
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My children go to the public schools |
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Maintaining programs |
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We need it |
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We love our schools |
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Teachers and students deserve it |
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Our four kids went through the Ann Arbor Public School system and I was a substitute librarian |
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The great work of our teachers |
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Maintain excellence in Ann Arbor schools |
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Keep them going! |
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Keeping programs like CHS mock trial and small classes |
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To support great programs for our own and other Ann Arbor children |
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Todd Robetts in leadership. People like Janette Jackson gave me faith in where the schools are going. We want to send our kids to strong public schools. We need education reform. Contributionls like this aren't the long term answer |
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I want Ann Arbor schools to keep being leaders |
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Nothing matter more than education |
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They're our schools! |
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Quality education is the key to our future |
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Belief in schools |
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To support the foundation of our democracy, public education |
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Great principal at King elementary school. Great teachers at Community high school |
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I voted for the millage |
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Public schools are so much a part of our society; I'm new to Ann Arbor and I resect the school system here |
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6th grade youngster |
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To support our schools for our community |
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For our grandchildren |
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Most important aspect of our society |
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We can |
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Please make a difference in our students futures |
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We're glad to help and thank AAPSEF for their wonderful work...one million thanks! |
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To continue to offer high quality education in Ann Arbor |
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We supported the millage. We support public schools. We have a child in AAPS |
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Maintain funding for enrichment programs - music, art, science |
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Currently have two children in the public schools and want to support quality education |
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Keeping the great system we already have |
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If public school can't work here it can't work anywhere, and it is not working. We left for middle school because it was so broken. We have that option but not everyone does. All deserve so much better! |
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AAPS alumnus. My art education at AAPS was valuable to my life and my career, and I have children now in AAPS schools |
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Honor of Jack, Robby, Jane Haviland |
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To maintain an excellent public school! |
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Would like to continue the high level of support that we receive. |
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Public education is the bedrock of democracy. |
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We believe that education is critical to the success of the individual, state, nation and world. |
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3 Kids in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Strong believers in public education. |
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Our children |
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We believe our schools need more financial support now |
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Continuing the excellence of our schools is very important |
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Ann Arbor schools were great for my children |
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Retired in 1982 after 32 years in libraries |
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Our children profited enormously from the music program, starting at Tappan! |
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I believe in education, and I have two grandchildren in the AAPS system |
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School age children |
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Importance of a well educated citizenry |
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I taught at Huron and Pioneer 1966 - 1988 and my husband was a principal for 32 years |
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Community pride |
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To support our schools for our community |
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Our sixth grader |
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Our three children |
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I care about Ann Arbor and kids |
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We value kid's education |
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Because they need it! |
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Who needs a reason? |
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Duh! |
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Excellent schools and we want them to remain that way |
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Community strength |
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My children have gone to Ann Arbor Public Schools. We have all benefited. |
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Having looked at other districts in the state and on the coasts, I can say that Ann Arbor offers more opportunity and challenges for its students. |
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They're our schools! |
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Nothing matters more than education |
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Public schools are so much a part of our society. I'm new to Ann Arbor and respect the school system here. |
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Have children going through the public school system and I want to support it. |
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Terrific, inspiring teachers like Alicia Rey Murrell at Haisley |
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Loss of millage |
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Badly needed |
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Healthy, educated children are our future |
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How can we not invest in our future - the education of children? |
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Because of some very supportive teachers at Huron and for Dr. Ingram's wonderful choirs. |
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The music programs in our schools are good and my daughter benefits from them. |
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It's our responsibility. |
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The millage didn't pass. We voted for it. |
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We need good education. |
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Public education is the bedrock of democracy. |
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We believe that education is critical to the success of the individual, state, nation and world. |
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Parents of Eric and Alan |
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My children benefited from the Ann Arbor schools and our grandchildren are currently enrolled. This is important to the community as a whole. |
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To ensure the future of our country |
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I love these kids and this community |
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Make a better world and a better community |
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It's the right thing to do and AAPS has taught my children well |
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Citizenship obligation and concern for the future |
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Our community responsibility. |
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Grandchildren. We have a high respect for Bach and Slauson. |
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Ms. Christina Birolini, 1st Grade Teacher - Eberwhite |
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Education is the key to opportunities |
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Because I have a 9th and 7th grader in the system. |
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I'm worried about the future of our schools. |
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Maintaining quality education and community. |
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Rejection of the millage. |
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To honor our children's teachers. |
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A2 music excellence needs to remain a priority. |
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Strong schools=strong community and vice versa. |
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My kids both got good educations in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. I want other kids to get the same. |
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I believe strongly in Ann Arbor Schools and want to help support programs that may be struggling financially. |
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My kids are in the Ann Arbor Public Schools. |
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To support kids in schools. |
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Common decency. |
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As our investment in the future of our society! |
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Schools are a community's most valuable resource. |
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Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you. |
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To maintain quality education. |
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In appreciation of Shelley Bruder and Bach Elementary staff |
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Keep Ann Arbor wonderful (or make it even better)! |
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As a quality control measure. |
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Because my daughter is benefiting so much from school services. |
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In honor of Mary Pedley |
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The children are the future |
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I believe in a great public school system |
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Donate generously, it's still a lot cheaper than private school! |
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Great communities start with great schools! |
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We appreciate the special support we have received |
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I supported the millage. I feel education is extremely important. |
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Children and grandchildren have benefited from the Ann Arbor Schools |
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We need good schools |
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Best investment we can make for the future! |
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Our kids got a great education here! |
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My children had Ms. York at Allen Elementary, and their lives have been changed because of her. |
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Kids are our most important resource |
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Want to keep our music strong in Ann Arbor |
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To continue the quality of arts in education |
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It's the right thing to do. |
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Our society is strengthened by excellent public schools. A high quality education should be a right and not a privilege. We have three kids in the public schools and voted for the millage. |
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A good education is so important! |
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Our kids and teachers deserve our support |
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Give all of Ann Arbor the strongest foundation possible |
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I hope to see media specialists have more time teaching the students at all grade levels. Their role in the schools is essential in preparing children for success in life. My child has learned a great deal from his media specialist and finds his time in the school media center to be personally fulfilling. |
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Believe strongly in public education for all! |
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To maintain quality education |
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Give all of Ann Arbor the strongest foundation possible |
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Our kids and teachers deserve our support! |
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A good education is SO important! |
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Education is very important!!! |
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We want to do our part to help the AAPS weather these difficult times, and we are so grateful that Kris Taveggia was part of our daughter's academic team this past year. |
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Believe in a great public school system. |
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In honor of Mary Pedley. |
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In honor of coach Luis Gago by the families of the players on his kindergarten boys soccer team! |
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In honor of Riyaz Kanji by the families of the players on his 4th grade boys soccer team. Thank you for having been their coach since kindergarten! |
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Max, Pioneer '12. |
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Education is important! |
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Our children!!! |
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In appreciation of Nancy Schleicher's many years of dedicated service, nurturing and guidance to students. |
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Strongly believe in public education. |
Thank you. We appreciate your support.
Please contact Wendy Correll with any questions or to get involved.
