2023 Annual Appeal: Please Donate Today!

Dear Supporter,

We are thrilled to share that the Stamford Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is back in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms (after an absence because of the pandemic)—and it feels great!

DONATE TODAY. With your support, this year we will elevate the success of 1,000+ students who need academic and social-emotional support to thrive.

Did you know Stamford is among the most ethnically diverse cities in America? While we enjoy celebrating our beautiful multicultural school community, the opportunity gap is very real for the children SPEF supports. Working closely with our schools and community partners, SPEF has a deep commitment to address the unmet needs and challenges faced by our students and their families.

P.S.  SPEF NEEDS YOU! Help us reach our goal of $65,000 this year. Together, we can prepare and inspire our Stamford students and families!

Please make your donation today!

Meet Jasmin, who never had the opportunity to attend Pre-K.
When Jasmin entered SPEF’s Summer Start program she was hesitant about the idea of school. She struggled with a language barrier, causing her to be shy about speaking with teachers and other students. Fast forward two weeks: one morning Jasmin walks into the classroom with a huge smile and proudly announces her name. During the 5-week program, Jasmin learned to write her name. She also learned to identify more letters, numbers and colors. By the end of the program, her confidence grew, she felt comfortable in the classroom, made friends, and was ready to start Kindergarten.

Meet Felix, a sixth grader at Dolan Middle School.
Felix was struggling in school, feeling disengaged, when his teacher suggested he join SPEF’s Stamford Mentoring Program. During his time in the program, Felix built a special relationship with his caring mentor. He was also provided access to free math tutoring, social-emotional counseling, and scholarships to afterschool activities. Felix learned life lessons during his mentoring sessions that he will carry with him, including the importance of setting short term, intermediate, and long-term goals. Having a mentor was helpful and fun. “We were able to talk about things we don’t talk about in class, like my goals in life and my future.”

Meet Kelly, a ninth-grade student at Stamford High.
Kelly was selected to participate in SPEF’s free Math Lab tutoring program. When she began, Kelly told her tutor she “didn’t care for math at all.” When her tutor discovered that Kelly had a passion for space travel, she made the connection and explained that math is a critical tool for travelling to the moon and space exploration. “Kelly was hooked,” her tutor shared. “After making that connection, she came to Math Lab with enthusiasm and a notable work ethic.” By the end of the year, Kelly’s math grades had improved dramatically, and she said Math Lab was her “favorite class of the week.”