Recognition, Accomplishments & Key Events
Photo at left: California State Senators Elaine Alquist and Tom Torlakson participate in a
Project H.E.L.P. first grade reading lesson at Bishop School.
- In June 2008, Project H.E.L.P. Founder/Director Mike Goltzer, Sunnyvale School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Rudnicki, and Bishop Elementary School Principal Eric Panosian visited State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's office and unveiled the newly formed Sunnyvale Community Collaboration. Superintendent O'Connell promptly wrote a letter of support and commendation for the efforts of the founding Collaboration partners including the Sunnyvale School District, Bishop Elementary School, and Project H.E.L.P.
- In 2007, California State Senators Elaine Alquist and Tom Torlakson visited Project H.E.L.P. and offered their support of the program. Sen. Alquist said, “I love your program. You’ve done great things.” Sen. Torlakson said, “Innovative programs like Project H.E.L.P. should be systematized.”
- In 2006, the Rotary Club of Sunnyvale selected Project H.E.L.P. as one of two beneficiaries of its fifth annual golf tournament.
- In September 2005, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell visited Project H.E.L.P. and complimented the program on its impressive effort to build and implement a state model for early academic interventions, a model which he believes effectively addresses the most the pressing issue in California education today – that of “closing the achievement gap” between students from different socio-economic backgrounds.
- In 2004, Project H.E.L.P. became the first two time grantee in the the Starbucks Bay Area Grants For Givng Program, winning out over 600 other organizations in the South Bay region.
- In 2003, Project H.E.L.P. was approved by the California State Board of Education as a “Supplemental Provider” under the Federal education legislation “No Child Left Behind.” Subsequently, Project H.E.L.P. was instrumental in lifting Bowers Elementary School in Santa Clara out of its “School Improvement” status — a negative designation under the “No Child Left Behind” law.
- In 2002, then-State Assembly Member Elaine Alquist obtained a $100,000 Member Request for Project H.E.L.P.
- In 2001, Project H.E.L.P. was recognized by then Governor Gray Davis, with his "Higher Expectations" Education award, which recognized programs demonstrating a targeted and effective focus on lifting underachieving students to work to grade level standards.
- In 2000, Project H.E.L.P. was selected as SV2's "Inaugral Grantee" and provided the Project H.E.L.P. Board with targeted and highly effective organizational development advice and guidance. SV2 is a donor network that leverages its financial, intellectual, and human capital to make a meaningful, measureable impact on Silicon Valley.
- In 1999, Project H.E.L.P. was recognized by former United States Secretary of Education, the Honorable Richard W. Riley, who when visiting Project H.E.L.P. complimented the program on its “pioneering efforts” and indicated that Project H.E.L.P. was the “right way
- In 1994, the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clara Unified School District, allocated $25,000 to the support of the program implementation, which marked the first systemic support for Project H.E.L.P., and established the core operating premise for the program: that of "leveraging systemic change" with the investment of private resources.
- In 1991, then U.S. Congressman Tom Campbell, was the first prominent supporter of Project H.E.L.P. and through his Silicon Valley business connections, was able to generate enough social venture funding to assist in launching Project H.E.L.P. as a pilot education program.
