IPSF has a new chair, a new corporate partner and a looming home raffle deadline

The Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which raises critically needed funds for IUSD and facilitates a number of innovative programs, recently announced the appointment of Dr. Sharon Salinger as the new chair of its Board of Trustees.

Salinger, who has been active with IPSF for several years, serves as dean of undergraduate education at UCI, where she oversees campus-wide programs and helps develop policies impacting student retention, course offerings, academic advising and mentoring, as well as the campus climate for teaching and learning. Naturally, she's been instrumental in IPSF's efforts to form a partnership with the university. She has also helped the foundation create such programs as UCI Day and the Summer AP Academy. Other newly minted board officers include Thad Martin of Honeybaked, Inc., who was named vice chair; Jason Lee of East West Bank, who is the new treasurer; and David Sanford of Doctor’s Ambulance Service, who was tapped as secretary. Meanwhile, the foundation also has a new corporate partner in Cox Communications. As a supporter of STEM initiatives, Cox will direct a significant portion of its donation toward supporting innovative technology in the classroom. The company is also a sponsor of IPSF’s third annual Spirit of Excellence Gala, which will be held Oct. 27 at the headquarters of Kia Motors. If that weren’t enough IPSF news for you, the foundation is a charitable partner with the Ocean Institute for this year’s 2012 Million Dollar Home Raffle, and the final deadline is Oct. 18. Each time a $150 ticket is purchased, and the ticket-buyer specifically mentions IPSF – that’s important – the foundation will receive $50. IPSF officials say this partnership has already netted more than $75,000 for local schools. For more information about all the stuff IPSF is doing, go to www.ipsf.net.