Dear Mill Valley Families,

With only a week left of school, we want to send a final thank you to all our generous donors and volunteers for your support this school year. Through the resounding success of our Annual Campaign, Business Partnerships, and events (including our beloved Kiddo! Carnival), we have raised over $2 million this year for the students of Mill Valley. We also had a tremendously successful 2025 Gala and Auction, which raised money for our Innovative Teacher Grants and the Kiddo! Endowment. We are thrilled to bring the community together with the goal of supporting our students.

Looking Ahead to 2025-2026

We will continue to provide grant support to the Mill Valley School District to fund our existing arts education programs in grades TK-8. Additionally, we will provide programming such as poetry, drama, and dance with visiting artists and fund supplies for music and art. As in years past, this funding will come directly from our Annual Campaign. Each school year, we raise money to fund the current year’s arts education. Nearly 80% of that funding comes directly from you, our parent community - thank you!

In 2025-2026, we will provide $500,000 to the MVSD for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and $500,000 to support counselors/wellness in the elementary schools and STEM electives at Mill Valley Middle School. The funding for TK is one-time funding for the 2025-2026 school year, intended to help ensure a continuation of the robust and successful TK program that MVSD has built. The support for wellness and STEM will continue for a total of three years. Kiddo!’s financial support will allow the District to maintain the current level of counseling and wellness support across all five elementary schools. As shared earlier this Spring, this funding will come from excess funds in our reserve accounts in keeping with our Reserve Policy and with approval from our Kiddo! Board of Directors.

Our Enduring Mission

While Kiddo! was founded in the 1980s to fill state budget cuts in arts education, our comprehensive mission is to support "quality educational programs in the arts and other areas for all children in partnership with the Mill Valley School District. As concerned citizens, committed parents and advocates for educational excellence, we raise funds, gather resources and act as a catalyst to involve the community in supporting public education. We celebrate the importance, value and achievement of our students, teachers and schools.” Historically, Kiddo! has provided financial support towards PE, libraries, classroom aides, technology, among other areas, and we will continue to support our students, community, and MVSD in achieving educational excellence.

Our 2025-2026 Annual Campaign officially kicks off on July 1st, and we hope you'll consider making a gift to support our students once again. Your partnership is essential to ensuring these programs thrive and grow, directly impacting every child in the Mill Valley School District.

With gratitude,

The Kiddo! Team