Manhattan Beach Education Foundation

"If you have a child, you have a reason."

Member Since: Apr 30 - 2009

Our Mission

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation provides a means for schools, individuals and businesses to work together to help children achieve their potential in an increasingly complex, interesting and challenging world by providing resources for a broad, engaging curriculum beyond what can be offered through public funding.

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation

Founded in 1983 by concerned parents and community leaders of the South Bay, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation raises money to improve Manhattan Beach public schools. It pays for teachers and other educators whose positions the state of California does not fund or require but our parents and educators consider necessary for a quality education. MBEF’s role has evolved from providing limited educational enhancements, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars, to funding critical educational programs at a cost of more than $2 million annually. MBEF currently pays for librarians, physical education teachers, health assistants, computer teachers, music teachers and assistants, educational advisors, college and career counselors, and a portion of high school elective courses, among other programs. MBEF’s board of directors consists of parents, community members, and PTA presidents from each of the district’s seven schools.

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation is a California non-profit, public benefit, corporation. It is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal tax ID number for the foundation (EIN) is 95-3881166. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The Endowment of the MBEF

In an ambitious extension of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation’s important mission, MBEF has launched the MBEF Endowment Fund, a permanent, self-sustaining fund that will help ensure future excellence and innovation in our schools. The income from a carefully invested endowment fund will provide a more stable source of funding in support of arts, science, technology, and innovative enhancements to school programs.
The MBEF Endowment Fund provides a practical way for families, alumni, businesses and others to make a long-term investment in the quality of our public schools and our children’s futures.

A big check for a big check. The Plaza El Segundo team represented by Lora Vrastil of Comstock, Crosser & Associates, Allan MacKenzie of Mar Ventures, and Richard Lundquist, Continental Development Corporation, present 2006-2007 MBEF President Anne McLaughlin with a generous donation to the MBEF Endowment. The one million dollars will be donated over five years commencing in 2007. It is the largest single gift the Endowment has received to date.

Manhattan Beach Education Foundation 2008-09 Business Advisory Council



The MBEF Business Advisory Council allows our Executive Board to update our business partners on MBEF activities, solicit feedback on various subjects, and provide our business leaders with timely school reports from the District Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent in charge of finance.
This year’s BAC meetings will be held on September 25, 2008; January 22, 2009; and April 23, 2009.
We find our business partnerships invaluable to building a community that is committed to keeping our school district one of the top-performers in the state. If you are interested in becoming a member of our BAC, please contact MBEF Executive Director Susan Warshaw at susan@mbef.org.

2008-09 MBEF Business Advisory Council Members

Major Avignon, Water, Inc., Carson
Edward Barrios, Shorewood Realtors, Hermosa Beach
Carleen Beste, Northrop Grumman, Redondo Beach
Jill Brunkhardt, Chevron, El Segundo
Isela Buenabad, Bay Cities National Bank, Manhattan Beach
Webster Burns, Toyota, Torrance
Mary Ann Chory, Northrop Grumman, Redondo Beach
Kevin Coyle, Wells Fargo Foothill, Santa Monica
Helen Duncan, Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce
Judith Gassner (guest), Torrance Memorial Medical Center Foundation
Jack Gillespie, South Bay Brokers, Manhattan Beach
Carol Glover, Glover & Horn Law Firm, Manhattan Beach
Sheri Gore, Kinecta Federal Credit Union, Manhattan Beach
Jeff Horn, Smith Barney, Los Angeles
Michael Keegan, Manhattan Bread and Bagel, Manhattan Beach
Allen Kirschenbaum, Bank of the West, Redondo Beach
Sherry Kramer, Continental Development, El Segundo
Tamika Lang, Boeing, Los Angeles
Debra Lauzon, Lauzon & Euler LLP, Hermosa Beach
Russ Lesser, Body Glove, Redondo Beach
Pam Marble, Vineyard Bank, Manhattan Beach
Mark Maruyama, Prosum Technology Consulting, El Segundo
Bill Mason, Honeywell (retired), Torrance
Richard Montgomery, MB City Council and RichMont Appraisal
Michael Mulcahy, Citizens Business Bank, Manhattan Beach
Steve Odabashian, NRG - El Segundo Power, El Segundo
Cindy Palm, South Bay Ford, Hawthorne
Scott & Liz Reed, Second City Bistro, El Segundo
Christopher Reynolds, Toyota, Torrance
Beverly Rohrer, MBUSD Superintendent
Steve Romines, MBUSD Asst. Superintendent of Administrative Services
Paul Silva, Beach Reporter, Manhattan Beach
Rod Spackman, Chevron, El Segundo
Mary Ann Varni, Downtown MB Business & Professional Assoc.
Mark Walter, Pointe Studios, Hawthorne
Bob Weiner, Weiner Associates, Manhattan Beach
Shana Yao, Manhattan Village Mall, Manhattan Beach
David Zimmerman, Wells Fargo Private Bank, El Segundo