By Renee Oldham
Executive Director, Mt. Vernon Education Foundation
While the school buildings may seem quieter this summer, the work behind the scenes never stops.
At the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation, summer isn’t our slow season — it’s our season of building.
We’re not just planning events or finalizing budgets. We’re laying the groundwork for student success by cultivating what matters most: relationships.
Because if you want a child to learn, you have to build a relationship with them.
And if you want a community to thrive, you have to build relationships around them.
Transactional vs. Transformative
Yes, we need donations. Yes, sponsorships matter. And yes, writing a check makes a difference.
Already this summer, we’ve met with business leaders, community partners, and caring individuals who don’t just want to give — they want to get involved. They want to be present in classrooms, inspire students, co-create workforce pathways, and support teachers beyond Teacher Appreciation Week.
But if we stop there, we’ve missed the real opportunity.
That’s the difference between a transactional partner and a transformative one.
“Transactions fund programs.
Transformations change lives.” Renee Oldham, Executive Director
Why We Work All Summer
We work in June and July so students can soar in August.
We prepare not just for what happens in the classroom — but for what happens around it:
- Strong community partnerships
- Responsive grantmaking
- Volunteer engagement
- Donor stewardship
- Strategic collaboration with local businesses and civic groups
We don’t just wait for the school year to start.
We activate early, so students feel supported the moment they walk through the door.
The Invitation
This back-to-school season, I want to challenge our community, especially our business and civic leaders:
Don’t just ask, “What can we give?”
Ask, “What can we build together?”
Our kids deserve more than transactions.
They deserve transformation.
And transformation starts with showing up — not just once, but again and again, in ways that say:
“I see you. I believe in you. I’m in this with you.”
MVEF is seeking transformative partnerships for 2025-2026.
If that speaks to your heart — let’s talk.
Contact me at Renee@MtVernonFoundation.org