New Pearson Educational Foundation President Excited to Make Meaningful Impact on LBPSB Community
by Julie Liebman
The new Pearson Educational Foundation (PEF) President, Kyle Verboomen, is excited to lead the Foundation on its fundraising efforts.
The Foundation manages several funds that are earmarked for specific schools and specific programs – over 110 special funds and bursaries dedicated to music programs, technology, food and cooking, and much more.
Over the past five years, it has increased its revenues by 51%, an incredible achievement considering the challenges associated with the two years related to the pandemic.
“Whether it’s raising funds for a robotics program or for purchasing music instruments, we are there to support these initiatives and I hope we can be more active in approaching the West-Island community,” says Kyle.
It also acts as steward for the financial proceeds resulting from the numerous fundraisers that are led by students, teachers, and parents which occur at the school board each year. It also acts as the custodian by ensuring proper tax reporting while arranging for timely disbursement. It also independently manages the endowment funds, student scholarship funds, literacy initiatives, and memorial funds on behalf of the LBPSB schools.
“One of my main objectives is to find ways to partner with West-Island businesses and see how they can join in helping us raise funds or make in-kind donations,” says Kyle. “The West-Island has so many successful businesses and I would love to see them get involved whether it be events, raffles, or anything else.”
Since becoming president, Kyle and his board have worked carefully on a strategic and financial plan that will help the team stay focused on their main goal: Raising funds for LBPSB schools, teachers, and students.
“This is the first time the Foundation engaged in such an exercise, and I am extremely proud of the work we accomplished. It will be a roadmap for the future to help us develop new fundraising strategies.”
In the past year, the Foundation recruited four new board members, elected a new president, and created subcommittees with specific mandates. “This year, we will leverage our internal expertise to help us achieve our objectives,” explains Kyle.
The Foundation board includes several members with financial, marketing, and sales backgrounds and with their combined skills, Kyle is hopeful that they will be successful in finding new ways to partner with local businesses.
“I look forward to continuing to help educators and students move forward and make a positive impact on the LBPSB community,” says Kyle. “I look forward to seeing how we can support our school board during the 2023-2024 school year.”
