Our Mission
Creating a Climate that Contributes to Learning
Our mission is to enrich, inspire and engage learners through educational experiences in collaboration with PYLUSD and our community.
The foundation of our activities, programs, and events is to advocate for 21st-century learning skills.
The 4 C’s: Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communications. The key skills that are a part of our Mission statement are broken out into three categories:
- Learning Skills - Critical thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication
- Literacy Skills - Information literacy, Media literacy, Environmental literacy, Health literacy, Technology literacy
- Life Skills - Flexibility, Leadership, Initiative, Productivity, Social skills
The REACH Foundation will use 21st Century learning skills as the tool to measure the value of the programs we support.
2022-2023 REACH Foundation Board Members
Melina Michaels, President
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
"You make a life by what you give." -Winston Churchill. The positive PYLUSD K-12 experience my kids had inspired me to volunteer with the foundation in 2014. Serving as president since 2019, it has been rewarding to see how the programs we offer students spark interest and encouragement in learning. "
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
"Education is not the learning of facts, but training the mind to think." - Allbert Einstein. As a PYLUSD parent for 18 years, I'm inspired by our children every day to create, connect, and collaborate. I enjoy working with the District, Parents & Community partners to develop STEAM programs that prepare our children for their future. It's an honor to be apart of this awesome team!
Tonjia Bier, Treasurer
Gisele T. Nguyen, VP Academics
Traci Severson, Secretary
"Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” ~Marian Wright Edelman My overall passion in life is to help others. Drawing from 19 years in the corporate world and being a parent in PYLUSD for over 10 years, I am proud to be a part of REACH Foundation as a means to fulfill my passion.
Traci Severson, Secretary
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
Traci Severson, Secretary
I have been a parent of PYLUSD students for 13 years but did not get involved in PTSA and REACH until they were in high school. Better late than never they say, and it's true! I am so thankful that I have finally gotten involved and will get to experience the great things that REACH does for PYLUSD.
Diane Adamson, PYLUC/SCAC
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
I became a PTA volunteer in 2007 when my Grandaughter started Kindergarten and served in numerous positions over the years. I have continued as a Reach Foundation volunteer since 2017 because I love the opportunities Reach provides to our schools.
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
Vivian Cuesta, Kids In Need/Vintage Promwear
Each child is unique, not only capable of learning… but also capable of succeeding. Robert John Meehan
As a former PYLUSD principal, teacher and parent, I have experienced and appreciated the uniqueness of children. I am inspired to be part of an organization that offers opportunities where all children learn and succeed.
Carrie Johnson, Middle School Track Meet
Anne San Roman, Academics Advisor & Elementary Programs
Anne San Roman, Academics Advisor & Elementary Programs
Seeing the potential in every child, the REACH Foundation was a natural fit for me. As one of founding board members for REACH and a PTA/PTSA for the last 13 years, I have had the honor and privilege of helping students see their potential within our three core goals “Academics, Art, Athletics.”
Anne San Roman, Academics Advisor & Elementary Programs
Anne San Roman, Academics Advisor & Elementary Programs
Anne San Roman, Academics Advisor & Elementary Programs
“You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” – John Wooden
Being a part of the PYLUSD family for the past 25 years has been a blessing. I am excited to have an active role in the REACH Foundation & hope to inspire students in PYLUSD to reach their full potential.
Program Coordinators & Volunteers
ACADEMICS TEAM
- Experience Your Environment - Anne San Roman Chair : Inside the outdoors award winning environmental Science program for PYLUSD Students at Carbon Canyon Regional Park 10-22-2022.
- From the Inside - Ashley Lopez Chair: Recent PYL alumni bring STEAM career insights to students on a Zoom meeting.
- Communicating with Confidence - Evelyn Yao, REACH Intern, Lead: These Learning Labs bring a hands on approach to communication skills.
- REACH Foundation Internship program - Gisele Nguyen Chair: This is a hands on work experience opportunity for PYL students who want to make an impact on their community.
- First Lego League Team Competition- Nikita Gupta, REACH Intern Chair, Nayana Gupta and Heather Mulkey: A robotics program that allows students grades 5-8 explore STEM in a hands-on manner.
ARTS
- Seat Dedication - Vanessa Cortez, Erin Marshall, and Heather Siemons : We are adding the Valencia Auditorium in addition to the Performing Arts Center for Performing and Visual Arts fundraising.
- ArtWorks - Vivian Cuesta & Joanne Combs Co-Chairs : The foundation assists in opening night for this district wide art show. We also coordinate docents for the for the duration of the exhibit.
ATHLETICS
- Middle School Track Meet - Carrie Johnson Chair: Middle school students across the district compete in this timed track and field event.
- ShamRock 'n Run & SQUARE Course - Roy Gill Race Director : This is our biggest community event and raises funds for many programs, the Middle School Track Meet , Jog A Thon PTA sponsorships, RTeacher grants and more.
- Jog A Thon PTA Sponsorships- Tanya Vidhun, REACH Intern Chair: Our tradition of supporting PTA's with a sponsorship and delivery of bottled water is going on it's 5th year.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
- Event Support - Chris Beh
- Placentia Chamber Representative for REACH Foundation - Nikki Linen
- Yorba Linda Chamber Representative for REACH - Gisele Nguyen
- PYLUC & SCAC Representative for REACH - Diane Adamson
- Vintage PromWear - Vivian Cuesta & Joanne Combs Co-Chairs
- REACH Foundation Teacher Grants - Vivian Cuesta & Gisele Nguyen Co-Chairs
- Kids In Need - Vivian Cuesta
REACH Foundation Interns at 2022 Middle School Track Meet
2022-2023 REACH Foundation Interns
Rowan Dix EDHS, Samuel Dix EDHS, Nikita Gupta YLHS, Harish Iyer EDHS, Sydney Kim EDHS, Aiden Kim Kraemer MS, Srihasika Potluri YLHS, Tanya Vidhun VHS, Megan Wang YLHS, Angela Yao VHS, and Evelyn Yao VHS.
Resources for our Students
In 2012, the ripple effects of the great recession were felt across the California education system with pervasive cuts to educational enrichment programs. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District long tradition of hosting a district wide Middle School Track Meet was canceled due to budget cuts. Many 6-8 grade students over the years have good memories and experienced the positive effects of being part of a middle school team, practicing and training to compete in a track and field sport that kept them interested in school and healthy lifestyles.
Seeing a need to be filled, a group of action-minded parents organized and created a 501(c) (3) on a shoestring budget and founded the REACH Foundation, an education foundation to provide enrichment programs for PYLUSD students.
This year, we begin our tenth year as an all volunteer non-profit. We have expanded our Healthy Lifestyles program beyond the Middle School Track Meet to hosting an annual Shamrock-n-Run 5K, 2K & SQUARE Obstacle Course. The funds raised from Shamrock-n-Run supports the Middle SchoolTrack meet along with our support of over 22 elementary school PTA Jog A Thons. The foundation also funded $7,900 Teacher Grants in 2022 . In recent years, we have accelerated our support of STEM by offering coding classes, bringing students and families together for outdoor environmental experiences and offering students the ability to work in Teams, develop communications and leadership skills and preparing them for the 21st Century.
We continue to be an all volunteer non-profit organization. In 2019-2020, the foundation logged in over 2,500 volunteer hours. In 2020-2021, we adapted and reinvented our programs for virtual and distance learning, maintaining our volunteer hours. This year, we provided in-person experiences, following the State and District’s guidelines, and continuing a few of our virtual programs.
The sentiment of the founders of REACH remains steady in 2022-2023. Academics, Arts and Athletics/Healthy Lifestyles are key to becoming well rounded students and community members. The REACH Foundation continues to support the students of PYLUSD.
-Melina Michaels
REACH Foundation president
Together we give
Help us expand our programs to more students by clicking on the Donate button below. Thank you in advance for your support!