The Importance of the Foundation

EWAEF will ensure the perpetuity of a quality arts program in the District by:

  • Introducing new friends and supporters to the District and helping to nurture those relationships
  • Actively raising funds and assuring the community that all funds raised by EWAEF will be provided to the EWCSD and designated for the Arts4AII program
  • Developing a healthy conduit between the District and the greater community in encouraging active relationships among our stakeholders: students, staff, parents, the Whittier business community, and the residents of our community
  • Bringing together professionals in the community and students from the schools so that collaborative relationships may be formed and students will have the opportunity to explore higher levels of expertise in the arts
  • Providing support for District teachers and specialists so that every student will have the opportunity to experience the arts

Guiding Principles of the Foundation

  1. All decisions will support the Mission of the Foundation and all funds raised will be for the specific purpose of supporting the Arts4AII program of the EWCSD.
  2. The Foundation will be responsible for the raising and investment of funds.
  3. Short-term initiatives will be funded from annual fundraisers and investments.
  4. The Foundation will support select extraordinary fundraising initiatives which fall beyond the scope of the annual fundraising event(s), including but not limited to endowments and planned giving.
  5. The Foundation will provide leadership for initiatives that are for the benefit of EWAEF.
  6. In addition to direct contributions, the Foundation will use the ‘mini-grants’ format to support the Arts4AII program of the District.
  7. There will be accountability by the individual or group that requests financial support from the Foundation, for example:
    1. Requests for support will use fact-based data (e.g., benchmarks) to justify the value/benefit of the request.
    2. The requester is expected to document and demonstrate the benefits of said request upon completion.
  8. The Foundation will, team with District leadership to determine the priority of various initiatives. Specifically, they will conduct an annual review of initiatives and priorities to help achieve the Vision and will include a strength/weakness assessment, benchmark analysis, and matrix for objective evaluations.
  9. The Foundation will be accountable to the East Whittier City School District; specifically it will compile and summarize the benefits of funded initiatives and report their findings back to the school board to ensure transparency and accountability.

Purpose

The East Whittier Arts Foundation is established to increase community support for arts education in the thirteen schools of the East Whittier City School District.

EWAEF is a community-based, nonprofit organization supporting the mission and goals of the EWCSD. It develops and nurtures community partnerships, financial resources and educational and vocational opportunities to benefit students while encouraging greater involvement from the community in support of the arts education in music, theatre, dance, and visual arts, including digital technology – in our schools.

Board of Directors

Dr. Janis Cavanaugh President

Dr. Cavanaugh is a longtime Whittier resident with many ties to the community. Her career started as the 1st female police officer in patrol in 1972. (City of El Monte)

Along with her law enforcement background she has been an educator at Rio Hondo College and East Los Angeles College. She is a Professor Emeritus from ELAC and Retired Police Chief from Rowland Unified School District. She remains a strong advocate for her students and the City of Whittier. Service to others is a priority. Volunteering adds years to your life.

She is a commissioner, appointed by City Council for the Puente Hills Habitat Authority.

Virginia (Ginny Ball)

Vice President

Suzanne Mendoza

Secretary

Annette Mendoza

Treasurer

Maggie Moe

Sal Failla

Marc Patterson

Eddie Villela

Mario Rodriguez

Advisory Board

Alicia Acheves

Maria Espinoza

Stu Gothold

Lou Grimaldi

Bob Haendiges

David Krake

Sue Langan

Joan Meister

Margie Montelongo

Jim Pigott

Ron Sill

Phillip Roa

Joe Vinatieri

Jan Lopez Wood