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Their aim is to assist in meeting the goals of the school district, and helping to fulfill the Peekskill Promise.
The PEF was started in November 2002 by a group of concerned citizens working in close cooperation with the Peekskill City School District, under the guidance of then superintendent, Judith Johnson. Upon its founding The PEF became an independent non-profit organization that works in support of the district. It operates as an entirely volunteer-based organization currently comprised of 6 board members, including its 4 officers.
The PEF's goals are to raise funds to support and develop new program initiatives designed to:
- Improve academic achievement in reading, science and math;
- Expand cultural enrichment experiences and opportunities in music and the arts;
- Create new opportunities for higher education for the district's students;
- Assist with equipment purchases and physical improvements to the district's schools;
- Identify and foster partnerships between residents, businesses, and the Peekskill City Schools in order to develop a higher level of community involvement and financial support.
The PEF has been collaborative with the community and leadership in the school district to focus their fundraising goals. Every year, the PEF awards two one-time scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Peekskill High School.
Since the pandemic, The PEF has been working towards fundraising for a larger single program, chosen by the board from a list of potential projects that the Peekskill City School District submits. Once the year's program is chosen, all efforts are put into funding that goal. This means that all of their grant applications can be tailored to that year's goal.
For the last three years, they have been fundraising for specific projects. In 2020-21 they worked with other community groups and businesses in Peekskill towards funding MiFi WiFi units, so district students and families who did not have internet access could do so for free at the start of the pandemic.
In 2021-22 they raised funds for Oakside Elementary School, the district's 2nd and 3rd grade building, for the purchase of Ozobots for their STEAM program.
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