South Pasadena Educational Foundation
The mission of the South Pasadena Education Foundation is to support the educational excellence of our public schools by providing funds, enrichment programs, grants, and equipment. This is possible only through the generosity of people like you. Please donate today.
Emily has always been curious about how the human body works—but curiosity can only go so far with textbooks and plastic models. Everything changed when she stepped into the South Pasadena High School science lab and used the Anatomage table SPEF funded.
For the first time, anatomy wasn’t something she memorized. It was something she experienced. She could rotate a 3D heart, trace the nervous system, and explore a full digital cadaver with a fingertip. Science became real, accessible, and empowering.
That moment transformed her confidence, her engagement, and ultimately her future. Emily joined the Sports Medicine and Biomedical Pathways, began tutoring classmates, and started imagining a career in medicine—because she finally had access to tools that matched her potential.
This is what SPEF makes possible.
Innovative learning experiences don’t just enrich classrooms—they open doors, spark purpose, and give every student the chance to discover who they can become.
Your donation helps create more moments like Emily’s.
Financials
Programs
Teacher Direct Grants
We offer the Teacher Direct Grant Program to encourage, enhance, and enrich educational activities that cultivate student achievement. These grants help fund innovative activities that have a far-reaching effect. The Teacher Direct Grant Program furthers SPEF’s mission to support educational excellence in the public schools of South Pasadena by operating enrichment programs.
A Musical Tradition
For more than 15 years, SPEF has kept the beloved 5th Grade Musical alive after SPUSD could no longer fund it—ensuring students from all three elementary schools experience the joy, confidence, and community that come from performing together.
This year, SPEF is expanding that impact by launching the new SPMS Spring Musical, giving 6th–8th graders opportunities to shine onstage, work backstage, and explore costume and production design.
Your donation keeps these creative, confidence‑building programs thriving and ensures South Pasadena students continue to have access to the arts experiences that shape who they become.
Summer School
Our Summer School program serves more than 2,000 students annually, providing opportunities to enhance their academic skills and spark their creative potential. With proficiency and enrichment classes available for students of all ages, from kindergartners to high school seniors, SPEF’s Summer School program is a vital resource for the community.
SPEF’s Summer School and Summer Camps are inclusive, welcoming students from various backgrounds and communities. The program is open to anyone who wishes to participate, making it a valuable resource for learners of all ages and abilities.
Afterschool Enrichment Program
SPEF’s Afterschool Classes give South Pasadena students the chance to explore interests, build confidence, and discover new passions beyond the regular school day. From STEM and coding to visual arts, music, athletics, and now expanded performing arts opportunities like the 5th Grade Musical and the new SPMS Spring Musical, SPEF ensures students have access to enriching, high‑quality programs at every grade level.
These classes aren’t just activities—they’re opportunities. They help students try something new, connect with peers, develop creativity, and gain skills that support them academically, socially, and emotionally.
Volunteering + Events
Fall Fund Drive
Volunteering for SPEF’s Fall Fund Drive is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to support every student in South Pasadena. When you put out a yard sign or help spread the word, you’re not just promoting a fundraiser—you’re championing the programs that make our schools exceptional.
Every sign, every conversation, every hour volunteered helps ensure SPEF can continue funding the enrichment, innovation, arts, and hands‑on learning experiences our students rely on. From classroom technology like the Anatomage table to beloved traditions like the 5th Grade Musical and expanded afterschool classes, these opportunities exist because our community shows up.
A yard sign may seem small, but it signals something big:
You believe in our students, our schools, and the future we’re building together.
Volunteering amplifies SPEF’s impact—and makes you part of the reason South Pasadena kids have access to experiences that inspire, challenge, and empower them.
Parti Gras
Volunteering for Parti Gras isn’t just helping at an event—it’s becoming part of the heartbeat of South Pasadena. Parti Gras is SPEF’s biggest community celebration and one of our most important fundraisers, directly supporting the programs, innovation, and enrichment that reach every student in SPUSD.
When you volunteer, you’re doing more than pouring drinks, greeting guests, or helping with setup. You’re making it possible for SPEF to fund classroom technology, performing arts, STEM programs, afterschool classes, and beloved traditions like the 5th Grade Musical. You’re helping create the experiences that shape students’ confidence, creativity, and future pathways.
Parti Gras is fun, lively, and full of community spirit—but its impact lasts long after the lights go down.
Your time turns into opportunities for thousands of students.
Volunteering is a small act with a big ripple.
It says, "I believe in our kids. I believe in our schools. I’m part of what makes South Pasadena extraordinary."