WiSH Education Foundation’s Director Reaches For The Summit in 2017

Executive Director Amy Daniels wants our community to be aware of the need for funding in our public schools, and she’s doing it in a big way.  She is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro in September 2017, and at 19,341 feet, it is the highest free standing mountain in the world.
WiSH is at a critical crossroads: With popular events such as Cocktails on the Roof and Amy’s inclusion in the Signal’s Top 51, WiSH has received a lot of exposure in the past year.  As she thought about what it would take to galvanize this wonderful buzz – to make every resident aware of the need for a strong, successful education foundation for the Hart District – she took stock of her skills, and this was what she came up with.
“I have backpacked all over the world, so I thought that this is how I can best combine what I do every day with what my skills are outside of the office.  It had to be big and have great impact.  WiSH has wonderful, fun events for the community, but events give us short-lived funding.  I want everyone to see how important WiSH is for this community as a whole – how the success of this foundation affects us all, whether we have students in the Hart District or not,” she said.
Amy explains the need for continued funding – not just to keep the foundation running but to send the bulk of funds raised directly into the classroom, where it counts.
“That’s WiSH’s mission: to benefit as many students as possible with our money.  If everyone gave just $5, it would have an enormous impact on our students.  That’s it.  Just $5 each.”
The first to step up was Henry Mayo Fitness and Health, who is training Amy for the physically demanding climb and providing physical therapy in their state-of-the-art facility.  In addition, there are already other supporters who’ve joined the expedition team early on – Jersey Mike’s, Lee Watters’ Consulting, The Signal and The Rudy Project.  Follow the climb as it unfolds and make your tax deductible donation to WiSH at amydanielsclimbs.com.  Follow her through Twitter (@amydclimbs) and Instagram (amydclimbs).  This is a unique and exciting opportunity for supporting education through year-long exposure, so if you’d like to be a part of it, contact Amy at WiSH@hartdistrict.org.
Thanks in large part to California Credit Union, who donates office space to WiSH and keeps our budget low, WiSH has already donated more than $160,000 to the schools of the Hart District in this short time. “It’s imperative that people understand that this funding impacts their own students regardless of which school in the Hart District they attend,” Amy adds.
With programs such as science equipment, STEM, computer lab upgrades, performing arts, athletics, special education and literacy, among others, every one of the 23,000 students of the Hart District has been impacted by WiSH.
“We have a very highly rated district with people moving to the Santa Clarita Valley specifically for our wonderful schools, but don’t let that fool you – there is a large gap between what schools need in terms of funding and what they receive from state and federal resources.”
WiSH is currently raising funds for the graphing calculators needed in math classes, which cost over $100 each.  With the number of students taking these classes, you can easily “do the math” and see what it takes just to fund this one item.  In addition to many of the other programs currently being supported, WiSH is also focusing on alternative education and making sure that every student has access to the tools they need to succeed in the classroom.
WiSH has a variety of fun and exciting community events planned for 2017.  Please check www.WiSHscv.org to find out what’s happening or to give.  For more information, contact Executive Director Amy Daniels at wish@hartdistrict.org.