Peace Arch Education Foundation makes first donation

More than a year after incorporating as a nonprofit, the Peace Arch Education Foundation (PAEF) marked a major milestone with its first monetary donation to the Blaine school district during the June 16 school board meeting.

Blaine Elementary School science specialist Lindsey Freeman was presented with the “Above and Beyond” award, along with a $500 check for her tireless work and dedication. In a speech presenting the award, PAEF president Charles Gibson called Freeman a “kid magnet” and commended the educator for using her own money to enrich her classroom with live animals and memorable experiences – and experiments – for her students.

It’s the first step in what’s been a long runway process for Blaine’s first-ever school fundraising organization that began in 2023 after Gibson retired from 17 years serving on the Blaine school board. Now, the foundation has gathered a team of officers that include former Blaine mayor Bonnie Onyon (vice president), longtime educator Bob Feaster (secretary) and a panel of community advisors.

Gibson described the early phases of the foundation’s fundraising efforts as “Ready, aim, aim, aim …” with no “fire.” The past year-and-a-half have been nothing but chaotic in the nonprofit world, Gibson said, with federal funding freezes, economic uncertainty and a litany of other changes keeping people from opening their pocket books and donating.

In the meantime, millions of dollars in public funds have been taken away from the Blaine school district, leading to three consecutive years of severe budget cuts taking away crucial staff and programs.

Blaine was the last school district in the county to not have an independent fundraising organization, and Gibson knew after announcing his retirement that he wanted that to change. Gibson said he hopes to model PAEF off similar organizations such as the Ferndale Public Schools Foundation, which was founded in 2023 and provides scholarships, student fee relief, and day-to-day support.

Gibson has already set priorities for the foundation, such as fundraising to reinstate the mountain school – an outdoor education experience for fifth graders facilitated by the North Cascades Institute.

PAEF also hopes to raise funds for field trip fees, athletic fees and any other small financial burdens that keep kids from experiencing their education to the fullest, as well as scholarships for higher education. The foundation also hopes to partner with Parent Teacher Organizations.

The $500 gifted to Freeman was raised through individual contributions from donors through the foundation’s website, peacearcheducation.org.

The foundation also awarded Dani Becerra and Claire Lewis with “Citizen Educator Awards” for their work founding Fund Schools Now, a grassroots, parent-led organization. Fund Schools Now was instrumental in organizing a town hall in January that brought state legislators to Blaine to hear about funding shortfalls in districts around the county.

With looming federal funding cuts and consistently inadequate funding from the state, PAEF knows they need more donations from the community, while they seek out corporate sponsorship, as well as private and public grant opportunities.

For more information on the nonprofit, call 360/201-5603, or email info@peacearcheducation.org. PAEF will also be hosting its first public fundraiser, the Borderite Block Party, on August 21 at Borderite Stadium.

This article was updated on June 26 to correct the date of the Borderite Block Party. We regret the error.