By Lookout Staff

February 8, 2023 -- A $25,000 match from the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows and its owner MSD Partners spurred 372 donors to give $236,940 to the Education Foundation last month.

The money raised will be used to help support programs and staff at Santa Monica’s 11 public schools, which decide how to spend their stretch grant, Foundation officials said.

Many schools use the funds for important social-emotional programs, as well as STEM, additional arts programs, or teacher training, officials said.

The amount raised easily surpassed the $158,769 raised last year and brings the total donations spurred over the past seven years with matches from the Miramar Hotel and its owner to more than $1.25 million.

“MSD Partners and Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows are thrilled to see the response to this match,” said Ellis O’Connor of MSD Partners. “Our partnership with the Ed Foundation –- and our support of this community’s public schools -– spans many years.

"We all know that schools form the bedrock of strong communities, and we are proud to do our part to make them as robust as possible. We hope this might encourage other local businesses to support what’s most important -– our children.”

This year's match coincided with the end of the Foundation’s parent fundraising campaign, which wrapped up on January 31.

Fundraising, however, will continue through June 30 "in order to raise as much as possible for programs and staff for next school year," officials said.

"Donations are down this year and the Ed Foundation has currently raised 81 percent of its annual goal," officials said.

In addition to individual and corporate fundraising efforts, the Foundation will host its 8th annual Wine Auction at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows on Sunday, May 7.

“MSD Partners and Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows continue to be there for our students, our schools and our community," said John Baracy, president of the Foundation’s Board.

"I don’t know what we would do without their consistent and generous support each year," Baracy said. "Their annual matching gifts have inspired thousands of donations over the many years. We are truly grateful.”

For more information or to donate to support Santa Monica students, go to smedfoundation.org.