The Palo Alto Black and White Ball Beneficiaries

Palo Alto Recreation Foundation (PARF)

The Palo Alto Recreation Foundation (www.parecfoundation.org) is a nonprofit organization that assists the City of Palo Alto Recreation Division in sponsoring and funding programs and special events to promote the social, cultural and recreational needs of Palo Alto residents and visitors to the city. The Foundation enhances youth, senior, family and neighborhood interactions, and promotes health and wellness throughout the Palo Alto community. Through collaborative efforts, the Foundation supports many programs that play an integral part in the well-being and success of Palo Alto's youth.

Proceeds from the 2008 Ball helped the Foundation fund the Middle School Athletic Program, assisted Youth Community Service (YCS) with their summer programs and supported Teen Leadership training and recognition. These programs strive to strengthen life skills and social adjustment for our youth through a connection with their community and by encouraging them to pursue positive social activities, by which they develop skills, friendships, and self-esteem.

Palo Alto Partners in Education (PIE)

Palo Alto Partners in Education Palo Alto Partners in Education (www.papie.org) is committed to sustaining a community tradition of extraordinary education. As our community's partner we want to ensure that every child, at every PAUSD school, in every year, has access to the classes, teaching and tools that he or she needs to succeed. Whether for reading, art, science or math for elementary school; or for electives, technology, libraries or counseling for secondary school, Palo Alto Partners in Education provides much-needed resources for students throughout the Palo Alto school district.

Last year, Palo Alto Partners in Education provided funding for vital technology needs, reduced class sizes, valued staff and programs, supplemental instructional materials, elective offerings, and library materials and staff. This year, proceeds from the Ball will continue to help fund vital educational needs. Palo Alto Partners in Education relies on the generous support of the community to help our schools maintain excellence by meeting classroom needs unfunded by other means. It is committed to building a true public/private partnership to provide a significant, stable source of funding for the Palo Alto Unified School District.

Palo Alto Library Foundation (PALF)

The mission of the Palo Alto Library Foundation (www.palf.org) is to spearhead fund-raising campaigns to support a modern, dynamic library system that serves the needs of everyone in our city.

The foundation was started in 2001 to raise funds for the renovation and addition to the Palo Alto Children's Library. That newly renovated and expanded treasure re-opened in 2007 with the foundation providing over $1,000,000 toward the effort. With the passage of Measure N on the November 2008 ballot the citizens of Palo Alto have provided for $76,000,000 in municipal bonds for the next phase of our 21st Century library system. PALF is now raising $6,000,000 for the furniture, technology and books for the new and improved libraries. PALF operates with a 13 member volunteer board and one paid part-time staffer. It has over 1,000 donors.

Please join us in our efforts to build a modern, vibrant library system in Palo Alto.

Youth Community Service

By developing service and leadership opportunities for young people and service-learning support for educators, Youth Community Service (YCS) promotes the ethic of service, fosters youth leadership, builds community, and enhances education. YCS offers numerous one-time community service days and events, as well as ongoing after-school service clubs for hundreds of middle and high school students in the Palo Alto, Ravenswood and Sequoia school districts in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park. YCS also offers the multi-district YCS Fellows high school leadership group, and Freshmen Leadership Corps for East Palo Alto and Redwood City students at Menlo-Atherton and Carlmont High Schools. YCS also offers an intensive Summer of Service program with daily service-learning trips to local sites.

Local educators also benefit from YCS coaching and curriculum materials to engage K-12 students through active service-learning strategies. For additional information about YCS programs, see their website at www.YouthCommunityService.org or the YCS Facebook page.

Palo Alto Family YMCA

The Palo Alto Family YMCA is a community organization that promotes healthy lifestyles and fitness to more than 15,000 people of all ages living in the Palo Alto area - whether they are members or not.

While we run a recognized top-of-the-line fitness facility, our annual “Care & Share” campaign provides most of the funding needed for financial assistance to less fortunate families so they can use the YMCA, attend family camps or participate in health and fitness programs.

The “Care & Share” annual campaign supports wellness programs for families and seniors, providing them with ways to lead healthier and happier lives. It also supports youth sports, teen programs, swim classes, day camps, Youth & Government, the Ventura Community Center, and the Cooper Scholarship program, which helps fund graduating high-school student's quest for a college degree. Our community-based programs reach across age, gender and need.

Learn more about the Palo Alto Family YMCA – its programs, its people and its commitment to the community at www.paloaltofamilyymca.org.

Visit us. Become a member. Support our “Care & Share Campaign”.