Women’s Club-Rim Ed

Polly Sauer (right), president of the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead, presented Jo Bonita Rains, president of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation, with a check for $1,000. (Photo by Marilyn Mays)

At their Jan. 18 meeting, held at the Lakefront Tap Room, the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead welcomed many members of the board of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation.

Jo Bonita Rains, president of the Rim Ed board, dispelled several misconceptions about the nonprofit organization.

“Our Foundation,” she said, “was started by volunteers eager to support our schools in 1983. One perception is that we all live in a resort. We are a board of people who live throughout the school district – from Crestline to Running Springs.

“We want to connect to the communities,” Rains said, “to learn their thoughts regarding student educational needs and interests.”

Rains pointed to the diversity among the members of the board. “We look for diversity in our membership,” she said, “because our students represent diversity. We have men and women on our board. We have people from diverse professional backgrounds.

“Our common denominator is our mission statement: To raise funds to support high quality educational programs that enhance student achievement.”

Over the past 10 years, Rains told the members of the Women’s Club, Rim Ed has provided approximately $500,000 to the schools in the Rim of the World Unified School District. Those funds, she added, comes from grants as well as the fundraising events Rim Ed holds.

Dr. Kimberly Fricker, the superintendent of schools, shared that support from groups like Rim Ed and the Women’s Club is truly appreciated.

Polly Sauer, president of the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead, presented Rains with a check for $1,000.