High Tech High Foundation recently held a sold-out 25th-anniversary gala fundraiser that generated $925,000 to assist its Liberty Station students in pursuing higher education and creating lasting opportunities for future generations.
On Oct. 19, the Foundation brought together community leaders, educators, and supporters for a night filled with celebration, fundraising, and reflection. Dedicated to advancing transformative education through project-based learning and fostering an inclusive, caring culture, the Foundation supports over 6,600 K-12 students across 16 schools in San Diego County.
The evening featured heartfelt tributes to CEO Emeritus Larry Rosenstock for his visionary leadership, as well as to long-serving faculty and staff whose dedication has shaped High Tech High over the past quarter-century.
“As we celebrate 25 years of impact, we look forward to the next 25 years and the opportunity to provide countless more students with the exceptional education they deserve,” said Foundation board chair Gary Jacobs. “We are filled with gratitude for all the ways the community has joined together in support.”
Audrey Gans, the Foundation’s CEO, talked about the gala fundraiser, its purpose, how monies will be spent, and who will benefit. “We have 16 schools across four campuses with seven schools in Point Loma,” she said noting the majority of 25th anniversary gala-raised funds will “go to two college scholarships right now, while we figure out how to accumulate and invest it in building our scholarship fund. This is our first time building a school fund.”
Gans noted High Tech High is distinctive in being a charter school that utilizes a ZIP-code-based lottery to yield a student population mirroring the school’s greater community. That contributes to the diversity of the student population. Some students, for instance, come from lower-income backgrounds qualifying them for free- or reduced-price lunches. Others are on track to be the first college-bound members of their families.
“We’re trying to ease the pain of going to college,” said Gans about the Foundation’s scholarship fund. She added, “Since this is the first time we’ve had a substantial amount of money in this account, we wanted to be wise with it and use it to make (more) money. We want to hire a grant writer to help us get grant money.”
Gans is uncertain whether the gala fundraiser will be an annual event. “I don’t know if we have the bandwidth to do it every year,” she said adding, “It might be every other year. We’re just trying to figure out the best way to keep this momentum in building the foundation.”
Those not having the opportunity to attend the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Gala can still donate at hightechhighfoundation.org.
HIGH TECH HIGH FOUNDATION
The High Tech High Foundation is a nonprofit devoted to raising funds to help provide transformative learning experiences for all High Tech High K-12 students within the 16 schools on four campuses in San Diego County. The Foundation is committed to supporting High Tech High Schools’ innovative project-based education and enrichment programs.
HIGH TECH HIGH
High Tech High was founded in 2000 with the vision of creating a transformative educational experience for students. The core philosophy of High Tech High emphasizes the integration of academic subjects with real-world skills, encouraging students to learn by doing in a collaborative environment. Developed by a coalition of civic leaders and educators, the school initially started as a small public charter school with an enrollment of 450 students. Over the years, High Tech High has grown into a network of 16 charter schools serving over 6,300 students across four campuses from kindergarten through grade 12.
