By Lookout Staff

December 22, 2015 -- The Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation (SMMEF), which raises funds for the School District received early holiday gift from a Health-care giant, Foundation officials said.

The $25,000 gift from Kaiser Permanente, which is part of the foundation’s Corporate Partners Program, was announced Monday by officials from both organizations.

"We are delighted to support and enhance the health and well-being of the students, staff and families in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District," said Georgina Garcia, senior vice president and area manager at West Los Angeles Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals.

"We care deeply about this vibrant and engaged community, and support the Foundation's work to ensure that all students thrive and reach their full potential," Garcia said.

Kaiser Permanente is due to open a medical office in Santa Monica next spring at Tenth Street and Broadway.

The donation from Kaiser comes as the SMMEF continues its road to raising $3.7 million by June 30, the end of the SMMUSD’s 2015-2016 fiscal year.

As of November 30, SMMEF had received commitments totaling $2,122,563 in donations, pledges and endowment income, said Ann Conkle, a Foundation spokesperson.

“This reflects a 32 percent increase in fundraising compared to the same time last year,” Conkle said.

The Kaiser announcement was the second piece of big news the Foundation has received recently.

On November 24, the Foundation received a gift of $110,000 from the financial data firm Dun & Bradstreet, which said it would match every dollar donated to SMMEF of up to $90,000 between December 1 and December 31.

Conkle said the gift brought Dun & Bradstreet’s total direct donations to SMMEF to more than $340,000 over the last three years.

Although it serves a generally well-off community, the District, which has 11,300 students from 8,000 families, traditionally has relied on the Foundation to supplement a wide-variety of services.

Donations to the organization, first established 33 years ago, are spread among all 16 schools in the District, and now include arts education for the district’s 4,900 elementary students, 87 instructional assistants and enrichment grants for all schools there. Some schools also use the funds for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) or visual and performing arts programs.

Conkle said many schools in the district will use the donation from Kaiser Permanente on health-related services, such as on-campus counseling, health clerks or other wellness programs.

“We are very thankful for Kaiser Permanente’s generous contribution,” said SMMEF Executive Director Linda Greenberg. “Through their donation, Kaiser Permanente is showing their commitment to healthy, vibrant schools and communities.

“I hope their gift is an inspiration to others to support education in our community,” Greenberg said.

The Corporate Partners Program includes such businesses as Macerich/Santa Monica Place, Fairmont Miramar/FIG Restaurant, Harding Larmore Kutcher and Kozal, NMS Properties, the Huntley Hotel , RAND and many others.