A Better Use Of Donald Bren's Next $8.5 Million Gift
Posted by: Jubal | 02/21/2008 9:39 PM
I first spotted the story of Irvine Company jefe Donald Bren's $8.5 million gift to help Santa Ana students while scanning Orange Juice, in which it was characterized as a gift to the Santa Ana Unified School District. While admiring Bren's beneficence, giving SAUSD a check for $8.5 million seemed not unlike giving money too a wino: while it satfisies the altruistic impulse, the gift itself is almost sure to be wasted.
Fortunately, it turned out the money was given to a non-profit called THINK Together. According to the LA Times:
But it made me think about other instances when foundations and of rich individuals bestow multi-million dollar gifts directly on public school districts. While not detracting from the admirable philanthropy of the donors, is writing checks to inefficient, wasteful, bureaucratic school districts that failed to make good use of their tax revenues the best way to improve the education of children in those districts?
And I'm not talking about parent fund-raising to help their teachers buy supplies, but big money like Bren's gift that can be leveraged to effect real education change.
A good example is the Children's Scholarship Fund, which offers tuition assistance for needy families. The CSF is active in Orange County, where it enables a number of children to attend St. Anthony Claret School in Anaheim. I posted about it on the FlashReport Blog two years ago. CSF started in Anaheim in 2004. Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle serves as honorary chair (and personally donated $10,000), and Newport Beach businessman David Steffy donated a matching grant of $400,000.
If philanthropists like Donald Bren really want to effect positive education change and open up opportunities for poor families, they should emulate CSF's example.
Say Bren had instead decided to use the $8.5 million to create the Donald Bren Opportunity Scholarship Fund (or some such name). That money pay for eight years of Catholic elementary tuition for close to 300 Santa Ana children to attend eights years of Catholic elementary school in Santa Ana, where they'd receive a better education than what's available to them at SAUSD (at least, for majority who aren't fortunate enough to get into a fundamental school).
And even larger number of students would gain the opportunity for a superior education if this Bren Opportunity Scholarship Fund awarded partial scholarships to help poor and working families bridge the gap between what they can afford and what private or parochial school tuition is. Tuition at St. Joseph School in Santa Ana, for example, is $3,500 a year. There are working families who can't afford the entire amount, but a partial scholarship of $1,000, !,500 or more can enable them to put send their children to a school like St. Joseph.
That's what the Luévano Foundation does. The Luévano Foundation has grown an endowment to $300,000 and awards $1,0000 scholarships to Latino students entering grades 6-8 in OC Catholic Schools, based on economic need and academic potential.
The Luévano Foundation built this endowment over a quarter century from small donations and taco sales. Imagine what someone of Bren's vast wealth could accomplish along these lines.
Santa Ana families would benefit because their children would have an alternative to SAUSD schools -- an alternative that provides their children with greater opportunity to succeed in life. And SAUSD could use the increased competition as an incentive to improve. Nothing spurs innovation and improved quality than losing customers to a competitor with a better product.
At least, that's my humble suggestion to Donald Bren: next time your contemplating a similar gift, consider going beyond standard corporate philanthropy and do something revolutionary.
Fortunately, it turned out the money was given to a non-profit called THINK Together. According to the LA Times:
The gift will bolster Santa Ana-based THINK Together, an after-school program that extends the school day for children who need extra coaching with classwork or homework help, often because their parents are working or lack English skills. The program provides an additional hour of schooling, homework assistance and physical education.I'm sure THINK Together will put Bren's gift to good use, and Santa Ana students will benefit.
But it made me think about other instances when foundations and of rich individuals bestow multi-million dollar gifts directly on public school districts. While not detracting from the admirable philanthropy of the donors, is writing checks to inefficient, wasteful, bureaucratic school districts that failed to make good use of their tax revenues the best way to improve the education of children in those districts?
And I'm not talking about parent fund-raising to help their teachers buy supplies, but big money like Bren's gift that can be leveraged to effect real education change.
A good example is the Children's Scholarship Fund, which offers tuition assistance for needy families. The CSF is active in Orange County, where it enables a number of children to attend St. Anthony Claret School in Anaheim. I posted about it on the FlashReport Blog two years ago. CSF started in Anaheim in 2004. Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle serves as honorary chair (and personally donated $10,000), and Newport Beach businessman David Steffy donated a matching grant of $400,000.
If philanthropists like Donald Bren really want to effect positive education change and open up opportunities for poor families, they should emulate CSF's example.
Say Bren had instead decided to use the $8.5 million to create the Donald Bren Opportunity Scholarship Fund (or some such name). That money pay for eight years of Catholic elementary tuition for close to 300 Santa Ana children to attend eights years of Catholic elementary school in Santa Ana, where they'd receive a better education than what's available to them at SAUSD (at least, for majority who aren't fortunate enough to get into a fundamental school).
And even larger number of students would gain the opportunity for a superior education if this Bren Opportunity Scholarship Fund awarded partial scholarships to help poor and working families bridge the gap between what they can afford and what private or parochial school tuition is. Tuition at St. Joseph School in Santa Ana, for example, is $3,500 a year. There are working families who can't afford the entire amount, but a partial scholarship of $1,000, !,500 or more can enable them to put send their children to a school like St. Joseph.
That's what the Luévano Foundation does. The Luévano Foundation has grown an endowment to $300,000 and awards $1,0000 scholarships to Latino students entering grades 6-8 in OC Catholic Schools, based on economic need and academic potential.
The Luévano Foundation built this endowment over a quarter century from small donations and taco sales. Imagine what someone of Bren's vast wealth could accomplish along these lines.
Santa Ana families would benefit because their children would have an alternative to SAUSD schools -- an alternative that provides their children with greater opportunity to succeed in life. And SAUSD could use the increased competition as an incentive to improve. Nothing spurs innovation and improved quality than losing customers to a competitor with a better product.
At least, that's my humble suggestion to Donald Bren: next time your contemplating a similar gift, consider going beyond standard corporate philanthropy and do something revolutionary.
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This is the same Bren who weasels out of paying child support for his illegitimate bastard children. Sorry but a charity gift to someone else while screwing your own offspring will not improve public opinion of you and make St. Peter forgive you.
Matt, your revolutionary solution is to bus kids in SAUSD to Catholic schools in Anaheim and Orange?
As a board member of THINK, I am greatly appreciative of Donald Bren's generous donation which will help many children and their families in Santa Ana and other regions like L.A. and the Inland Empire. If you look at his nonprofit gift giving over the years, you will see that many involve education, including the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and many many other institutions and organizations statewide and nationwide.
Vive le Jubal, savior to kids in SAUSD! Art, please take note.
Matt -- Just curious about how much you've personally contributed to this program. I believe in strong public schools and have made contributions to schools in Irvine since my kids started going 10 years ago; last year, we contributed $450. Santa Ana schools are facing severe budget cuts and Bren's generous contribution will surely benefit this district and the kids. No amount of money can replace parental involvement in making sure kids get their homework done and mke adequate time to study their subjects.
Matt -- Just curious about how much you've personally contributed to this program.
And you point is what, Dan?
...last year, we contributed $450.
That's terrific, Dan. Good for you.
Actually, my wife reminded me its more like $2k when you factor in stuff we bought at the school fundraising auction, but I'm only declaring the casg gift.
My point -- are you putting your money where your mouth is? I think Bren can spend his money wherever he wants and he's been generous to Irvine schools; but you're posting an item on where he should spend his money; doesn't it make sense that its an organization that you, yourself have found fit to contribute to?
My point -- are you putting your money where your mouth is?
I figured it was one of your stupid "gotcha" debate tactics of trying to make someone appear to be a hypocrite.
Let me ask you something. Do you give to every single, solitary charity that strikes you as worthy?
Actually, my wife reminded me its more like $2k when you factor in stuff we bought at the school fundraising auction, but I'm only declaring the casg gift.
That's fabulous, Dan.
I have taxes extracted from me for the mediocre school district in which I live. I pay tuition for two daughters at Catholic elementary school, one daughter in Catholic high school, and a another daughter at UC Berkeley. So I'm fairly tapped out financing the Cunningham Scholarship Fund. Not to mention school fundraisers, etc. And that's with the money I have left after the feds and the state are done with me.
I'm making a suggestion for Bren's next gift. Take issue with the idea or not. Or is it less taxing to trot out ridiculous debate tactics?
Matt, your revolutionary solution is to bus kids in SAUSD to Catholic schools in Anaheim and Orange?
Quang:
And where, my friend, did I say that?
As a board member of THINK, I am greatly appreciative of Donald Bren's generous donation which will help many children and their families in Santa Ana and other regions like L.A. and the Inland Empire.
Maybe you missed it. I clearly said I was glad - I repeat, glad -- Bren gave the money THINK Together, and not directly to SAUSD.
I suggested what I think it a better option for his next charitable education gift. Do you think it's a bad idea? A good idea?
Is it National Anklebiting Day?
Anklebiting is right!
I expected better from Quang.
Dan, on the other hand, met expectations.
I think Donald Bren is the best judge of where to make his next charitable donation.
Weak answer! Beyond weak!
maybe this is the surplus from the money Bren saved on the sloop fees.
See, Matt, the problem is that Catholics schools don't have to take all comers; they can take the best applicants and leave the rest. So while you're pooh-poohing other people's charitable donations as unworthy (please just admit you'd like to break public education completely), the poorest kids who need the most help will be left with even less. Your preferred charity, of giving scholarships to private schools, does nothing to solve that at all, and if it results in shaming people from making donations to the district, you have left children worse off.
Christian spirit in action.
See, Matt, the problem is that Catholics schools don't have to take all comers; they can take the best applicants and leave the rest.
That is a tired old saw trotted out by public schools as an excuse for their own mediocrity. If it were true, than the public school system would have always been mediocre -- which isn't the case.
You will find a cross-section of kids in Catholic school. There are smart kids, and not-so-smart kids. No, they don't take all comers. But the criteria for getting in are more than "we'll only take the smart kids."
So while you're pooh-poohing other people's charitable donations as unworthy (please just admit you'd like to break public education completely), the poorest kids who need the most help will be left with even less.
Sigh. Should I have used one syllable words when writing this post? I didn't pooh-pooh Bren's gift. I commended him. And I offered a suggestion for his next educational gift that I think would have an greater impact.
Tell me: would Bren be harming poor children attending lousy SAUSD schools by offering them scholarships they could use at a private or parochial school?
Your preferred charity, of giving scholarships to private schools, does nothing to solve that at all, and if it results in shaming people from making donations to the district, you have left children worse off.
I sometimes wonder if logical thinking has gone the way of the do-do bird. Your argument makes no logical sense.
First, I didn't call for giving scholarships to private schools, but to individual students who could use them to get a better education at a private school. Are you suggesting that would harm scholarship recipients?
Secondly, is Donald Bren such an irresistible moral force that he could shame people into not making donations to the district. But if you believe that if Bren funded a private elementary school scholarship program, then no one would want to donate to a public school...well, perhaps you are inadvertently making a subconscious judgment on the wisdom of such donations.