Many of M-A’s programs, like academic resources and student-run clubs, are financially supported by the Foundation for the Future. This community initiative, dedicated to enhancing Bears’ education, is one of the silent drivers of M-A students’ daily experience.
“The foundation is a community in itself of like-minded people who want to see the school thrive and continue to be one of the best public high schools in California,” Foundation board member and head of the Foundation’s auction committee Mike Lemberger said.
The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that accepts tax-deductible donations, with every dollar going towards savings for M-A’s funding. It consists of only one full-time employee, seven volunteer executive committee members, and close to 30 volunteer board members. Without a Foundation in place, M-A would have larger classes and fewer course options while falling short on college preparation, teacher support, and school budget. “I enjoy getting an inside view into the programs and people who benefit from the programs the foundation supports,” Lemberger said.
The Foundation covers 10% of M-A’s school budget, which also helps pay for teacher salaries and student activities. “It makes me smile to know that we have a wonderful community that is willing to put in time and effort so the students and teachers can have the best experience possible at M-A,” Lemberger added.
The Foundation raises money through two main efforts, their Annual Giving Campaign and their Online Auction. The Annual Giving Campaign collects direct donations from families and community members every year in March, and accounts for the majority of the Foundation’s funding. This funding is used to provide M-A with smaller class sizes, college and career resources, and other critical programs.
This campaign is the Foundation’s primary source of funding, as it relies on direct financial contributions. However, the Foundation also hosts an annual Online Action.
The Online Auction is a 10-day event held in March that allows families and community members to bid on donated items, directly supporting the Foundation. It is one of the Foundation’s most anticipated community events.
The auction features a wide range of items, including vacation getaways, sporting event tickets, gift cards, and BearWear. Past offerings have included rounds of golf at local country clubs and stays at vacation homes in Costa Rica or Hawaii. All proceeds go directly toward programs that support students and teachers at M-A.
“Each year, we have hundreds of families participate [in the auction], with over 100 auction items available,” Lemberger said. “The result is a series of memorable events that strengthen our community while raising essential funds for M-A.”
Parties are the most popular offering at the auction. Each graduating class has its own event, and additional themed gatherings—such as crazy-wig or book-swap parties—are also available for parents. Instead of traditional auction-style prices, these events are sold at fixed prices, with all proceeds going directly to the Foundation.
Getaways are another key part of the auction, as vacation homes and hotel stays in different travel destinations around the world are auctioned off to the highest bidder. This year, offerings include vacation homes in Costa Rica and Hawaii, as well as hotel stays in Monterey Bay.
M-A’s themed items are among the auction’s most unique features. This year, the M-A Favs section included 20 limited edition M-A Bears dog leashes, M-A hats, and a “Donut Worries” box—a delivery of Chuck’s Donuts to your door on the first morning of finals.
Fund-A-Need is another key component of the auction that directly impacts the school. Each year, principal Karl Losekoot selects a high-impact, one-time need, and the Foundation works to raise enough money to fund it. “Last year, our PAWS Center, a place students can relax when feeling stressed, was the Fund-A-Need of the year,” Lemberger said. This year’s focus was new computers for the computer lab and new software for the computer science courses.
One of the Foundation’s biggest challenges is building awareness and encouraging participation across the community. “The biggest challenge we face is mainly educating the M-A community on the impact that the foundation has on the school and the community,” Lemberger said.
For Lemberger, the Foundation is ultimately about supporting M-A’s flourishing community. “It makes me smile to know that we have a wonderful community that is willing to put in time and effort so the students and teachers can have the best experience possible at M-A,” he said.
