The 33rd annual fundraiser supports over 18,000 students in the Bellevue School District with 
“Innovator” sponsors Amazon, Microsoft, and The Bellevue Collection

BELLEVUE, Wash. – The Bellevue Schools Foundation is hosting its annual Spring for Schools fundraising event on a Saturday, April 1st, from 5:00-7:00 PM at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. This year’s event, themed “Under the Stars,” marks a new chapter for the organization, which previously hosted Spring for Schools as a luncheon. 

The evening will feature remarks from the new superintendent for Bellevue School District, Dr. Kelly Aramaki, and the master of ceremonies is a district alum, Marc Ossinger. 

“We are hopeful that updating the format and timing of the event will offer greater accessibility to the almost 12,000 families served by the District, as well as our community partners, educators, and philanthropic investors,” says the Foundation’s Executive Director, Juliet Buder. 

“Spring for Schools’ sterling reputation as one of the most impactful community gatherings in Bellevue will be enhanced in this transition to an evening event. We look forward to welcoming anyone in the community who wishes to learn more and amplify the organization’s mission.”

According to the foundation’s development director, Michael Smith, this year also marks a change in the event’s format. “We’ve moved the entire education showcase of our programs into the ballroom and we’ve broken the presentations into smaller pieces. This will allow attendees to spend more time engaging with students, educators, and each other.”
Spring for Schools Leadership Donors have been contributing to the fundraiser already, and additional individuals can join as leaders any time before March 23rd. In addition to private donations from community members, corporate sponsors provide critical funding in acknowledgement of the evening and the organization’s goal to raise at least $500,000. This year, Amazon, Microsoft, and The Bellevue Collection have led with significant contributions, along with FieldTurf, Overlake, Sierra Martin Architects, and T-Mobile.

Funds from the event will support programs sponsored by the Foundation at the Bellevue School District, including mental health, computer science, early learning, inclusive libraries, and national board certification for teachers. “Being recognized by the prestigious National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is an honorable achievement and teachers are very appreciative of the support provided by the Bellevue Schools Foundation,” says second grade teacher Heidi Von Tersch.

“The Foundation offers the District critical funding for programming that would otherwise fall through the cracks of local, state, and federal funding structures,” says Buder. ”Spring for Schools offers our entire community an opportunity to advocate for resources critical to the next generation of leaders in Bellevue.”

To register for the event and donate to the Bellevue Schools Foundation, visit www.bsfdn.org. 

ABOUT THE BELLEVUE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: Established in 1979, Bellevue Schools Foundation (BSF) is the first foundation dedicated to supporting public K-12 initiatives in Washington State. Its mission is to promote and fund the best possible learning opportunities for all students in Bellevue’s public schools. This year, the Foundation is supporting $800,000 of programming in the Bellevue School District.