LYNNWOOD— The Foundation for Edmonds School District has received a grant of $240,000 from the Whitehorse Foundation to support the Foundation’s Whole Families, Whole Communities (WFWC) initiative. Since 2017, WFWC has helped remove barriers to academic success by providing Edmonds School District’s most vulnerable students and families with year-round access to health and wellness services.
The grant marks the Whitehorse Foundation’s continued investment in helping Edmonds School District students overcome barriers to learning through comprehensive academic, mental health, and family support services.
The funding will allow the Foundation to expand Student Wellness, a credit-bearing afterschool program, from its original location at Alderwood Middle School to a second site at College Place Middle School. The expanded program will serve 50 students and families each week, providing students with academic support, leadership development, mentorship, social-emotional learning, and individualized mental health and family support.
“Middle school is a pivotal time in a young person’s development,” said Deborah Brandi, Executive Director of the Foundation for Edmonds School District. “Students are navigating significant brain development, increasing social pressures, and heightened sensitivity to stress, making them more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Student Wellness provides the academic, emotional, and family support they need during this critical stage so they can thrive in school and beyond.”
“The Alderwood Middle School After-School Program continues to demonstrate promising results in supporting students with the greatest academic and attendance needs,” said Greg Schwab, Edmonds School District Assistant Superintendent. “Many participating students showed meaningful improvements in school attendance and academic performance over the course of the year, including several students who increased their attendance by more than 20 percentage points and others who made significant gains in GPA. These outcomes reflect the program’s success in engaging students who face barriers to success and providing the academic support, positive relationships, and sense of belonging that help them reconnect with school. We are grateful for the support of our funding partners, whose investment is making a measurable difference in the lives of our students.”
Nearly half of Edmonds School District students are economically disadvantaged. To ensure a holistic approach to care, the grant will also allow the Foundation to continue funding 2.5 full time positions for Family Resource Advocates, who work alongside students and families to provide individualized case management, connect families with community resources, and coordinate mental health support when additional help is needed. Both the FRA support and the expanded Student Wellness program will help ensure more students have access to the support they need to succeed.
Through WFWC, students and families also have access to additional supports such as weekend meal kits, school snacks, pop-up pantries, summer meals, financial literacy education, career coaching, health screenings, and connections to community resources. While Student Wellness will serve 50 students and families each week, overall, Whole Families, Whole Communities is expected to serve approximately 500 students and families during the 2026–2027 school year.
About Foundation for Edmonds School District
For 42 years, the Foundation for Edmonds School District has worked in partnership with the District to ensure that every student has the resources to learn, thrive and contribute to our vibrant community. With an all-volunteer board and active community participants, the Foundation provides supplemental funding to support students, families, and educators in the pursuit of educational excellence. www.foundationesd.org
About Edmonds School District
The Edmonds School District is Snohomish County’s largest public-school district, serving more than 21,000 students across 35 campuses. Boundaries span five communities including Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Brier and part of Bothell. On average, 33 percent of the district’s students are eligible for the federal free or reduced lunch program.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
