As summer ends, a new season of possibilities has begun, including for our grantees who have been busy launching new programs and offerings and breaking ground on innovative projects for Bay Area families, students, and educators. In San Francisco, an initiative between the SF Recreation and Parks Department and the SF Parks Alliance helped to renovate and re-open the Herz Playground in McLaren Park; the Marin Office of Education just started construction on its one-stop Career Technical Education Center, which will provide training in a wide range of subjects and connections to certificate programs; and KQED Teach has expanded its free resources for teachers to develop media literacy skills to better engage their students and incorporate new technologies into their curricula.

Koret’s support of education and recreation in the Bay Area stems from our belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential. As a new school year begins, we are inspired by the work of our education and civics grantees. Their passion, resourcefulness, and drive for change push them to continually discover new opportunities for growth and better serve the next generation.

Inspired by our Grantees

College Track is known for its programmatic efforts to expand college access and completion for students in underserved communities. As its understanding of the comprehensive support students need has evolved, College Track expanded its programs to include a 10-year partnership with every scholar, from ninth grade through college graduation and on to the beginning of their careers. In this grantee story, we spoke with College Track’s first Chief of Education, Dr. Rosanna Ferro, about this expanded scope and how the benefits of this holistic approach extend beyond individual students to effect change throughout the higher education system.

Read our grantee story here.

Thoughts & Opinions

In eJewish Philanthropy, Koret’s chief program officer Danielle Foreman co-authored an opinion piece with Elana Shuldt from Rodan Family Foundation and Rich Walter from Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta about using data-driven findings to best serve the Jewish early childhood education marketplace.

Read the full article, titled “Using data to guide strategic grantmaking in Jewish early childhood education.”

Koret Grantees in the News

Tennis center at Golden Gate Park earns coveted national award The Lisa and Douglas Goldman Tennis Center, which re-opened in 2021 after a $27 million renovation through a public-private partnership, has been selected by the USTA to receive the 2023 Outstanding Facility Award and as the sole recipient of the prestigious “Featured Facility of the Year.” Read more.

The Marine Mammal Center opens the Sea Lion Spot at Pier 39 The Marine Mammal Center opened up a Sea Lion Spot at Pier 39, providing an educational experience for all ages. Hear from experts about how we can all take action to keep sea lions safe and look out for a permanent exhibit coming in the Spring of 2024. Read more.

Eight Jewish Story Partners films selected for the SF Jewish Film Festival The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival selected eight documentaries supported by Jewish Story Partners to showcase at this year’s event. The films range from a documentary about challenging the overturning of Roe v. Wade on the grounds of religious freedom, to a comedic tribute to the “Borscht Belt” and its family-run summer resorts. Read more.