Spotlight on Success: November 2019
This is a special time of year where we express our heartfelt gratitude and thank you for your support.  YOU are the heart of the Foundation and because of your volunteerism and donations, our students can reach the promise of their potential. And for you, we are truly grateful!

With sincere thanks and appreciation, 
Cornell Atwater
Executive Director
Did you know that each year $4-7 billion reserved for nonprofits is left on the table because donors didn’t submit their contributions for company matching?

When you submit for company matching, you maximize the impact of your dollar. While many companies match at a 1:1 ratio, some even match at a 2:1 ratio. Your $1000 donation may have the potential to deliver $3000 worth of resources and program support to Issaquah School District students and teachers.

This past year, the Foundation celebrated Microsoft and its legacy of employee matching and giving. Over the years, Microsoft and its employees have donated $1M+ to the Foundation through individual contributions, employee matching benefits, paid volunteer hours, and corporate support. Thank you!

We are inspired by Microsoft’s continued commitment to support causes that are important to their employees. Last month, we were honored to participate in Microsoft’s Public Schools Foundation Espresso Cart GIVE event.  Hosted at the Bellevue office, employees were encouraged to meet representatives from five local schools foundations and learn more about the work being done within their community and opportunities to engage.   

Thank you to those of you who donate and submit for employee matching! To learn more about your company’s corporate giving benefits: http://isfdn.org/matching-gifts/
Join us anytime on Wednesday, November 6th from 11:30AM-2:30PM and 4:30-9PM and Chinoise Sushi Bar & Asian Grill will donate a portion of your bill to fund programs and resources for Issaquah School District students, including food & snack support during the school day. More info: http://isfdn.org/dining-for-kids/
Join us in welcoming Penny Chang to our Foundation team as the new Director of Development for Issaquah Schools Foundation! Penny will be responsible for the organization’s fund development, donor engagement, and major campaigns. With nearly two decades of experience in higher education management, Penny brings to the team international leadership experience in business development, strategic planning, and program management. 

Penny was previously Director of Strategy and Business Development at the University of British Columbia and most recently Business Development Director at the American Heart Association. 

Penny holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Irvine as well as a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. 

Penny moved to Issaquah five years ago from Canada and has two young children who will be attending the Issaquah School District in the near future. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Issaquah and its surrounding communities, travelling the world, yoga, hiking, volunteering, and most of all, spending time with her family.
Shop for a Cause is right around the corner! Join us for a fabulous night, November 14th, while supporting Issaquah students! $3 from each glassybaby and 20% of all Kendra Scott jewelry sales will be donated back to fund programs and resources. Enjoy an evening on the Terrace (indoor) of the Calcutta Grill with friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and rally together to shop for a cause! There will be raffles for free jewelry and food and beverage specials More details here .
It’s the time of year when many people focus on the things for which they are thankful. It’s good to spend the time as it can be easy to take things in our life for granted. For many, having food on the table, or supplies for our kids’ schoolwork is easily provided. That is not the case for every family in our district, and the Issaquah Schools Foundation wants to make sure that all students have what they need to succeed in school. One program that we offer is around food support. It’s hard to concentrate when your stomach is empty, and our program helps students who are hungry during the school day. The Foundation provides funds so each school may have food on hand for hungry students, including snack items like cheese sticks, apples, and crackers, as well as breakfast sandwiches at the middle schools and lunch support as needed at the high schools.   We are thankful and extremely grateful to our donors and community partners for their unwavering support of this program.