History
The Point Loma High School Pointer Association,
the sole adult fundraising organization supporting PLHS, is a merger of
three organizations
each of which supported PLHS in its own way. In order to understand our
mission and goals it is important to remember our history.
PL Foundation + Point Loma 2000 + PLHS Alumni Association
PL Foundation
The high school’s original foundation primarily raised funds for
classroom gifts and grants to help teachers do a better job for our community’s
kids. In good years, these gifts and grants totaled in the tens of thousands
of dollars and were a resource quite valued by the faculty and staff. The
current PLHS Annual Golf Tournament has its roots with the Foundation.
Point Loma 2000
A separate community-based organization called “Point Loma 2000” was
formed in 1994 to raise money for major capital improvement projects at
the school. It raised about $400,000 in its six-year history. The lockers in the 300 building and the outdoor
seating in the quad were two of this
group’s more visible projects.
PLHS Alumni Association
The Alumni Association, founded in 1976, performed the traditional role
of helping alums to connect (or re-connect) with their school and their
classmates, and served as the custodian of the school’s memorabilia.
They collected and maintained a database of alumni contact records for
more than 30 years. The original alumni association also started our
annual scholarship program for graduating seniors.
The Merger
The challenge of merging these three organizations – each with its
own history, agenda, budget and funding sources, style of doing business,
and significant organizational ego – extended over several years.
It was not easy, as you might imagine. But finally it was all done in the
year 2000
PLHSPA
And very shortly thereafter, the school formally
designated the newly combined PLHSPA as its sole adult fundraising
organization.
Clearly, the school’s leadership and administrative staff benefit
from the streamlining and convenience of having a single point of contact
for all school-related adult fundraising activities.
At the time of the merger, the first PLHSPA President, Pete Wheeler,
observed, “Working separately, the three groups have accomplished
much. Working together, there’s no limit to what we can do.” The
PLHSFAA Board works hard to remain true to the original goals of each of
our founding organizations as we fulfill our Mission: “To
develop and provide the resources for enhancing the educational environment
of
Point Loma High School, with a goal of building Pointer Pride for generations
past, present, and future.” |
