By Lookout Staff

September 25, 2015 -- When you drop off or pick up your kid at school, make a pledge to the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF) and an anonymous donor will match your donation, the non-profit group announced this week.

Pledge Days begin at some Santa Monica Schools on Monday, and the last day to make pledges will be Friday, October 9, Foundation officials said. Donations to SMMEF will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $100,000.

“Pledge Days and the very generous $100,000 match will encourage district families to give early in the school year,” said SMMEF Executive Director Linda Greenberg.

“High rates of district family giving allow us to show potential corporate and community donors how invested our parent community is in ensuring excellent educational opportunities for all our students,” she added.

The donations and matching funds will help fund staff and programs at the 16 schools across the district, officials said. Staff and programs funded include elementary arts education, instructional assistants and enrichment grants.

Much of the funding is used for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or visual and performing arts programs, officials said. The funds also are used by some schools to “hire additional health clerks, augment on-site counseling programs or run other programs focused on student wellness,” they said.

One donor from each SMMUSD elementary school that gave between July 1 and October 9 will be eligible to win a family pass for four to Pacific Park, courtesy of the amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier.

Starting September 28, SMMEF and PTA representatives will be on each elementary campus in the district to thank donors and encourage others to support Foundation-funded programs.

Following is the full Pledge Days schedule:

Edison Language Academy: September 30, during drop-off and pick-up

Franklin Elementary School: September 30, during drop-off and pick-up

Grant Elementary School: September 28-October 2, during drop-off

McKinley Elementary School: Sept. 28, Sept. 30 & Oct. 2, during drop-off & pick-up

John Muir Elementary School: September 28-October 2, during drop-off

Roosevelt Elementary School: October 5-9, during drop-off

Santa Monica Alternative School House: September 28-October 2, during drop-off

Webster Elementary School: September 28 & October 2, during drop-off