RWC Group Funds Students, Families Hardest Hit By COVID-19 Crisis

REDWOOD CITY, CA — When a local school district had to turn physical classrooms to Zoom screens amid shelter-in-place orders, a Redwood City group supporting underserved students and their families came to the aid of those hit hardest by the economic impact of the pandemic.

The Redwood City Education Foundation has raised over $450,000 in support of families after the Redwood City School District moved to at-home learning.

The RCEF was founded in 1983 by concerned community members in the wake of Proposition 13 budget cuts. The group donates 100% of the proceeds to support families through the Community Schools Family Emergency Fund and the and the Emergency Housing Assistance Program.

The Community Schools Family Emergency Fund provides gift cards to low-income families so they can purchase basic provisions such as groceries, toiletries and gas, and the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, a city-administered program providing direct financial relief to families at imminent risk of losing their homes.

RCEF serves 7,500 students (54 percent of which qualify for free or reduced lunch) in the RCSD and its teachers.

Appeals for donations to fund the program has led to donations from more than 500 individuals and families, tens of thousands of dollars in contributions of which were matched by Apple, Google, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, among other sources. Oracle contributed a direct grant of $35,000.

“RCEF is focused on improving the academic performance of underserved students, and when the District moved to at-home learning, we knew we needed to take swift action to ensure that no family fell through the cracks,” RCEF Executive Director Jason Galisatus said.

“We want kids to focus on their schoolwork instead of worrying whether they will have a roof over their heads of food on the table. I am extremely grateful to everyone in the community and the incredible local businesses that stepped together to donate funds so we are able to help those in need during these unprecedented times. Coming together provides hope for our community, which is something that is needed now more than ever.”