Think College Now.

If you haven't given to the Piedmont Annual Fund or the Piedmont Ed. Foundation, now's a great time to do it (and while you're on the Ed Foundation site, sign up for the Docter family special preview of Pixar's new film Up on May 2nd). If you want more info on Piedmont school funding, click here.

And if you want to help compensate for cuts in state funding in communities that don't have parcel tax funds and major donations to turn to, consider a donation to Think College Now.

TCN is a public elementary school in Oakland’s Fruitvale district with a focus on college prep. Both Pacific Union and I have been major donors for the last couple of years. Beginning in the kindergarten classroom, TCN is determined to give its students – 91 percent of whom are low-income – the same opportunities available to kids in communities like Piedmont. The school is succeeding – it was one of three Oakland schools to win a California Distinguished School Award in 2008 – but doing so against great odds. Faced with severe state cuts, TCN's already tight budget stands to take a $150,000 hit next year--for that single school alone. These cuts endanger the very things that distinguish this amazing school: dynamic after-school music and art programs, field trips, and small, personalized class sizes.

If you'd like to attend the auction/fundraiser this year, scheduled for Thursday May 7th at the Piedmont Community Center, email me. If you'd like to make a donation, click here. The teaching team, and the kids, really need our support.