Home

Nothing is more important than a good teacher.
– Barack Obama

Home—What’s new?

WHAT’S NEW

Help us care for the environment and

get more of your donations into the hands of teachers

by signing up for our digital communications.

Home — Section 1

About EPAK

The East Palo Alto Kids Foundation (EPAK) is focused on narrowing the equality gap in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto schools by providing microgrants directly to teachers.

Home — Section 2

EPAK’s Focus

Quality education is one of the best investments we can make. 

We trust the experts to know what to do…that’s why we invest in teachers. By providing grants directly to teachers, we’re helping them improve the educational experience of their students.

Home — Section 3

EPAK Results

In 2022-2023 we awarded over $335,000 in grants.

EPAK funded over 500 separate teacher-directed projects across 12 schools in eastern Menlo Park and East Palo Alto. Twenty percent of these grants benefited special needs students.


The top three project areas funded by our grants were:

35%


Literacy Initiatives

14%


Art & Music

13%


Science

Home — Section 4

EPAK Highlights

EPAK’s
difference

Support
teachers

Geography
is not destiny

Home — Section 5

Educators and reading specialists agree: one of the best ways to inspire students to read is to encourage them to share their favorite books with their peers, and talk about the books in a group setting. This teacher and their EPAK grant accomplished such a goal! ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago
Educators and reading specialists agree: one of the best ways to inspire students to read is to encourage them to share their favorite books with their peers, and talk about the books in a group setting. This teacher and their EPAK grant accomplished such a goal!

School bells are ringing for EPAK’s students in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park!

With the excitement of the first day of school comes a variety of needs for teachers with high hopes for student achievement. Last year EPAK “dreamed big” and gave out over 400 teacher grants in all, including 14 “special grants” for long term, big impact projects!
... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago
School bells are ringing for EPAK’s students in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park!

With the excitement of the first day of school comes a variety of needs for teachers with high hopes for student achievement. Last year EPAK “dreamed big” and gave out over 400 teacher grants in all, including 14 “special grants” for long term, big impact projects!

For three decades, EPAK has been dedicated to empowering and supporting our community’s educators & students.

At EPAK’s beginning in 1994, we were able to fund 15 grants to educators. Today, thanks to the support of our incredible donors, EPAK continues to make a profound impact. In 2024, 30 years later, we funded 490 grants to educators totaling $330,470!

As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering academic excellence and equity as we launch a new Special Grants program.

Please join us in celebrating this milestone and the incredible journey of EPAK! Here's to another 30 years of making a difference.
... See MoreSee Less

4 months ago
For three decades, EPAK has been dedicated to empowering and supporting our community’s educators & students.

At EPAK’s beginning in 1994, we were able to fund 15 grants to educators. Today, thanks to the support of our incredible donors, EPAK continues to make a profound impact. In 2024, 30 years later, we funded 490 grants to educators totaling $330,470!

As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering academic excellence and equity as we launch a new Special Grants program. 

Please join us in celebrating this milestone and the incredible journey of EPAK! Heres to another 30 years of making a difference.

🍎 It's Teacher Appreciation Week! 📚 At EPAK, we're honored to support educators with grants to enhance their classrooms. Thank you, teachers, for your dedication and hard work! ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago
🍎 Its Teacher Appreciation Week! 📚 At EPAK, were honored to support educators with grants to enhance their classrooms. Thank you, teachers, for your dedication and hard work!

EPAK Celebrates Earth Day! ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago
EPAK Celebrates Earth Day!

April is Stress Awareness Month!

Teacher Allison M. writes, "This EPAK grant is dedicated to all the students who show up persistently to school, even though it seems like we are all struggling one way or the other. With this EPAK grant, we hope to find some of that pre-existing magic in the classroom through art. School doesn't have to be a place where kids dread coming, but hopefully it can still be a place...of hope."
... See MoreSee Less

6 months ago
April is Stress Awareness Month!

Teacher Allison M. writes, This EPAK grant is dedicated to all the students who show up persistently to school, even though it seems like we are all struggling one way or the other. With this EPAK grant, we hope to find some of that pre-existing magic in the classroom through art. School doesnt have to be a place where kids dread coming, but hopefully it can still be a place...of hope.