Endowment Fund begins in 2010 for foster teens of San Pasqual Academy

Joan Scott, Lois Jones, Christy Wilson and Dagmar Helgager are starting an Endowment Fund at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation for the foster teens at San Pasqual Academy. Photo/Jon Clark

The vision of the founders of Friends of San Pasqual Academy was to participate in the lives of the foster teenagers at San Pasqual Academy in a very hands-on capacity. They wanted to offer a normal high school life for these underprivileged, abused and neglected children in the hopes that their efforts would create a new-found trust in a different, safe world than what these children had endured for much of their young lives. Many of the programs that blossomed from this idea were indeed, very hands-on and very successful. They wanted the kids to know and understand that what Friends of San Pasqual Academy volunteers did, came from their hearts. They also wanted the benefits of their efforts to have a direct impact to the kids that they could see, hear, feel, appreciate, and remember fondly.
According to Lois Jones, board member of Friends of San Pasqual Academy, "We didn’t want to become just another fundraising philanthropy, and we didn’t want to create a sense of entitlement for the kids either. We just wanted to offer what they would have experienced if they’d had a nurturing family and home life and a normal childhood. And now eight years later, we believe our efforts have positively impacted these children. Many graduates have gone on to college and vocational schools and some into the military. They’ve broken the cycle of tragedy, abuse and neglect that would have continued, had they remained in the horrific world from which they experienced."
Friends of San Pasqual Academy has been able to provide so many different avenues for these children. Friends has joined forces with other caring individuals and organizations that include National Charity League, Teen Volunteers In Action, Torrey Pines High School, Solana Beach School, Rotary Club, the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild and others to provide positive experiences and items for these teens. This includes the scoreboard for their football field, lettermens jackets, a health and wellness center, sports uniforms, prom night, yearbooks, Holiday gifts, back- to school -supplies, Easter baskets, Valentine’s Day bags, clothing, quilts and supplies when they transition to the adult cottages. Computers for every student to keep, funding for the art and music program, leadership seminars for young women, scholarships, transportation to special events, and further support when they are off at college are provided by Friends members. The list goes on and on and on.
But like all good and noble efforts, these programs and events cost money and not just with a one-time funding. Every year a group of children graduate but still need support, and every year a new group of children join the San Pasqual Dragons to be cared for for the next four years or more. Last year the school added 48 more beds. The needs are so great, and the success of these efforts is highly rewarding. And because of that, Friends of San Pasqual Academy has fundraising campaigns that help fund ALL of the programs offered. But as the list of students grows and the fundraising efforts yield less in a tight economy, they realize that the Friend's organization needs funding to continue to offer the quality and types of programs they’ve been able to provide thus far.
To prepare for the future and to establish long-term financial goals, an Endowment Fund has been created at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation for the foster teens of San Pasqual Academy. "To perpetuate our organization and our efforts is so important for even more than the programs we provide. The impact of keeping the consistency and the presence in the face of these children who’ve never had it, builds their trust and confidence in a way that helps to heal them. The best way to protect our efforts is to create an Endowment. I’ve stepped forward with my donation to begin that endowment. But that can only be the beginning. With so many children's future at stake, this endowment needs to grow substantially. We need to protect in perpetuity all that we’ve worked so hard to provide. Won’t you please make your contribution today? Every cent you give contributes to the well being of these deserving young people," explained Lois Jones, upon presenting this donation to the Board of Directors of Friends of San Pasqual Academy.
The donation of $10,000 was given by Lois Jones to the Friends of San Pasqual Academy Endowment Fund at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please contact Christy Wilson at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation at (858) 756 - 6557. To learn more about Friends of San Pasqual Academy, visit their website at www.friendsofsanpasqualacademy.org. or call (858) 759-3298. Donations can be sent to PO Box 8202, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067.