Langley School District Foundation

The Langley School District Foundation (LSDF) was set up in 2001 to add to what public funding covers in Langley schools. It works on its own, separate from the school district, and its stated vision is that every student in the district reaches their full educational potential. The Foundation says about 90 per cent of donations go to students and their programs.

What it focuses on

The Foundation’s priorities page names four areas.

Food for Thought. After hearing that kids were turning up hungry, the Foundation asked schools about it. Principals reported hundreds of students each morning without breakfast or a packed lunch, more than 3,000 a day across the district. The campaign aims to make sure a student who arrives or leaves hungry gets breakfast, lunch, a snack and a weekend backpack. Breakfast clubs now run in all Langley schools, firefighters’ charitable societies deliver snacks monthly, and local churches and Rotary clubs fill the Friday backpacks.

Mental wellness. The Foundation helps students who need private counselling but can’t afford it. Families start by talking to a school counsellor or principal, who contacts the Foundation, and requests are kept confidential.

Literacy. This covers reading and writing and also financial, health and digital literacy. Recent items include a summer book giveaway and a free eight-week early-literacy program.

Student opportunities. This is the funding for things beyond the standard school budget: leadership, volunteering, extracurriculars and the IDEA Series, which includes the IDEA-X Challenge and the IDEA Summit. The Foundation also manages more than 300 scholarships and bursaries, and a Youth Advisory Committee for Grade 10 and 11 students in the district.

Charity Shopping Night

One of its events is the Charity Shopping Night, an after-hours ticketed shopping evening that raises money for local students. Tickets have been sold through Eventbrite, linked from the Foundation’s site. Dates change each year, so check the Foundation’s events page and our events page.

How to give

Donations are tax receiptable. You can give through the Foundation’s own donate page or through CanadaHelps, which describes the Foundation as a registered charity. Businesses and groups can also sponsor scholarships or work with the Foundation as partners; the site has a partnerships page.

Getting in touch

The Foundation’s office is at 4875 222nd Street. The site gives a contact form rather than a phone number, so start there. If you’re a family looking for help, the Foundation’s own route is through your child’s school counsellor or principal.

Who runs it

• Board and staff: the volunteer directors and the staff team.

For the district itself, see Langley School District. For other local causes, see charities and galas.

Something out of date? Tell us.