Thank you Packard Foundation

2020 has given us all a big lesson on the word “flexibility.”

When change happens at a moment’s notice, it is reassuring that our partners, like the Packard Foundation, continue to support our efforts to change the odds for kids. We want to thank the Packard Foundation for their generous gift of an additional $50k on top of their two-year commitment to support programming in the Bay Area.

A significant portion of our operational budget consists of grants and donations that help supplement our After School Education and Safety (ASES) programs funding. The Packard Foundation’s gift provides additional support for our expanded learning programming in 15 schools in San Jose and Alum Rock. Think Together serves over 3,000 children and youth each year in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

Over the past six months, Think Together has shifted our priorities to meet the needs of our schools and students across California. We are supporting families by connecting them to resources for meals and health services, conducting wellness checks with families via phone, and supporting school districts with food distribution. The wellness checks have been critical in helping our staff members stay connected to families, getting updates on how the students are doing, and providing them with essential resources.

We have also been working closely with our school district partners to align our programs with their school’s priorities. Over the past few months, we have produced over 700 online lesson plans for a variety of subject areas. These include courses in English, Math, STEM, Social and Emotional Learning, and nutrition education. Our Program Leaders have been implementing these lessons via Zoom.

While we have been adapting to fit the needs of the times, Think Together is proud to maintain our mission to partner with schools to change the odds for kids. We are grateful for the additional support we have received from our corporate and foundation partners like the Packard Foundation.

Thank you for keeping our mission possible.