TO ALL VHHS GRADS--WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Announcing the Verdugo Hills High School
Alumni Fund for Excellence!

An endowment fund established by VHHS Alumni (beginning with the Class of 1963) seeks to promote educational opportunity and teaching excellence at Verdugo Hills High School. This teacher-oriented financial support from past students is also the bridge to a permanent connection between VHHS alumni, current students, and faculty.

Built up to over $35,000 by 2007, the Fund has already made Mini-Grants to several teacher applicants in the range of $100 to $1,000. As the Fund continues to grow with support from additional classes, the yearly grants--disbursed from interest income--are anticipated to grow as well.

We are now seriously seeking class contact names from all the other Verdugo graduating classes, 1939 to today!

Why is there an Alumni Fund?
Verdugo Hills has remained a very special place, with caring, dedicated teachers, an enthusiastic principal, and one of the most diverse student bodies in California. Yet there are educational needs that remain unmet because of a general economic climate not supportive enough of education.

In April, 2007, members of the Alumni Fund revisited Verdugo to meet Principal Diane Klewitz: Steve Nakasone, Bonnie (Finn) Haskell, Gwen (Goodwin) Hougo, and Joe Villari. Principal Klewitz is in the center.

It was felt that graduates who had affection for their old school and who realized the importance of community in supporting education would want to band together for Verdugo. The Fund is an outgrowth of caring alumni who saw strength in our shared history with so many other graduates and also the advantage of so many divergent post-high-school careers, life experiences, family-lives, and far-flung addresses.

What and where is the Fund?
The fund is called the VHHS Alumni Fund for Excellence. It is a permanent endowment fund, from which annual Mini-Grants will be made. The objective of these grants, which will be in the range of $500-1,000 each, is to enrich the educational experience for VHHS students.

Funds are deposited with and administered by the highly respected California Community Foundation (check their website at www.calfund.org), and all donations are tax-deductible. Yearly grants are expected to be made from the interest income alone.

Who can apply for a Grant?
Teachers will be able to apply for grants to fund projects that will directly benefit their students. Examples: to buy lab equipment for a science class, to pay for a summer course that will update and improve a teacher's skills, to fund supplies and field trips for a fine arts program.

Teachers may also apply for grants that will pay for students' participation in such life-changing experiences as summer internships in science or the professions, or a class trip to attend a regional or national science fair or symposium--opportunities often denied to Verdugo students in an era of restricted budgets.

What Grants have been given so far?
In June, 2004, the first Mini-Grants were made. Five hundred dollars were earmarked for a seismograph (as it turned out, the teacher who requested it left the school so the funds were made available for another project). As evidence of the wide-ranging "bridging" support the grads are able to give, a second Grant request was met with a personal donation! The Foreign Language Department applied for money to buy binding equipment so they could produce a literary magazine. A grad on the Alumni Fund Committee coincidentally owned such equipment and chose to donate it at no cost! The Language Department was given an extra $100 to complete the project.

In June, 2005, the Drama Department received $600 to purchase a complete set of dramatic masks, which are used to encourage student expression.

In January, 2006, the Speech/Film/Integrated Art course in the Multimedia Magnet received $1,000 to equip a television studio so students could produce a Weekly TV News Broadcast. (This department had proven itself by submitting high quality video of its previous effort, "Eye on Verdugo" TV series.) Social Studies teachers were given $500 to purchase "realia" (props, food, historical products) that will help them teach American culture and history.

In March, 2007, $750 was given towards an interactive "SMART Board," an exciting electronic white board with graphics and text capabilities to be used in science classes. Another $750 was awarded to the VHHS Jazz Band to assist in hiring a field trip bus when the Band visits Hawaii on a cultural exchange trip.

How much money does the Fund need?
At the current $35,000, two $500-$1000 Mini-Grants could be made every year. Our initial goal is to be able to give more substantial assistance, in the range of four $1,000 yearly grants. This requires a $100,000 endowment.

Who contributes to the Fund?
The Class of 1963 kicked off the Fund. A Foundation also made a contribution. Every graduate of Verdugo will be approached to contribute as well, with communication made via yearly reunions.

How much should I give?
As with so many other fund-raising appeals, there is no set amount. It is expected that people will offer what they can and what they want to. We felt that motivating graduates to give back to Verdugo would be the #1 objective; 100% participation is the real goal more so than large amounts. Acknowledgement letters are sent for any gifts over $50. Some gifts have come in over $500. All gifts are treated confidentially.

I am a grad and I want to contribute, what do I do?
If you would like to make a donation, please send a check, made out to

VHHS Alumni Fund for Excellence and mail to

Janet Dowling Sands

VHHS Alumni Fund
3938 State Street, Suite 200
Santa Barbara, CA 93105

Please indicate your year of graduation and make sure we have your name, address, phone and email.

I have some questions or I know someone you should contact
Please contact:
Bonnie (Finn) Haskell, bonvfin@earthlink.net (818) 952-1944
Janet (Isbell) Sands (805) 683-3292
Susan (Flood) Rodgers, SRODMROD@aol.com (661) 702-9913

Thank you from the VHHS Alumni Fund Committee:

• Janet (Isbell) Dowling Sands, Class of 1963
• Steve Nakasone, Class of 1963
• Dan Perlmutter, Class of 1963
• Bonnie (Finn) Haskell, Class of 1963
• Susie (Flood) Rodgers, Class of 1963
• Gwen (Goodwin) Hougo, Class of 1964
• Dave Robertson, Class of 1968
• Bill McBee, Class of 1976
• Joe Villari, Class of 1977
• Will Reinhart, Class of 1987 (Faculty Representative)

The Alumni Fund Review Committee met in May, 2004, to determine who would receive the first Mini-Grant. Pictured l. to r. are Susie (Flood) Rodgers, Janet (Isbell) Dowling Sands, Principal Cheryl Dellepiane, Steve Nakasone, and Bonnie (Finn) Haskell. Not pictured is faculty member (and 1987 VHHS graduate) Will Reinhart, a social studies teacher and volleyball coach.