Each year the MBEF Board works together with Manhattan Beach Unified School District leadership to determine an immediate need to focus on during the Paddle Raise. Past initiatives include math, STEAM, and visual arts.
2025 Paddle Raise
Building Connection on Campus and in the Classroom with More Teachers
At the heart of an exceptional education lies the connection between disciplines, between students and teachers, and between schools and their communities. When learning is interconnected, students don’t just memorize facts-they discover how ideas come together, how knowledge applies to the world around them, and how they can grow into thinkers, creators, and leaders.
In our Manhattan Beach schools, this approach shines. Our educators cultivate curiosity and confidence by encouraging students to make connections across subjects, collaborate with peers, and engage with real-world challenges. They personalize learning, integrate technology, and inspire exploration—laying the groundwork for a lifelong love of learning.
These opportunities are made possible through strong community support. With every donation to MBEF, we are building more support for our students on campus and in the classroom with more teachers to support students in their educational and emotional development. When we come together, we ensure that our children continue to thrive in classrooms led by passionate, innovative educators.
Let’s invest in excellence—together.
Raise your paddle high for our students, our teachers, and our future.
2025 Paddle Raise Donors
Julia Kornilova & Boris Amelyan
Julie & Victor Arizpe
Emily and Matthew Arneson
Kailee & Terence Balagia
Holly & Tony Barberi
Balfour Beatty
Ashley McCarthy & Bret Barker
Lisa Bennett
Michelle McDonald & Dan Blakey
John Bowes
Sarah & Reid Brackin
Madison & Harris Bristol
Emily & Mike Brunick
Irene Gonzalez Castillo & John Castillo
Hannalorre & Mohamed Chahine
Lorelei & Jason Chao
Dr. Alice Kuo & Dr. John Chang
Araceli & Steve Charelian
Chevron
Ally & Casper Choffat
Lana Choi
Caroline & Daniel Chon
Erin & Brian Coppola
Elizabeth Costa De Beauregard
Heather& Dirk de Roos
Amanda & Chris Coye
Jen & Bill Cram
Maribeth & Ben Cunningham
Angela & Malcolm Davies
Angela & Jake Dax
Melissa & Allen Dench
Jodi & John DeWitt
Janna & Stephen Dormer
Courtney & Bill Dramis
Madeleine & Dennis Durkin
Farnaz & Lawrence Flechner
Kimberly & Matthew Friesl
Stacey & John Fundingsland
Katie Gunther & Alistair Farquharson
Lisa & Darren Gable
Theresa & Dave Gendron
Meghan & Grover Geiselman
Rachel & Garret Giglia
Megan Glover
Jan Rhees & Michael Grady
Cathey & Tim Graves
Caitlin Green
Leena Rao & Sunil Gupta
Marian Guirguis
Stephanie Harlow
Stephanie Hawkins
Bri & Matt Haydis
Vida Holguin
Susan & Michael Holton
Trisha & Michael Husson
Jennifer Huynh
Kathleen Paralusz & Brad Jacobson
Gretchen & Rich Janson
Katie & Brett Johnson
Lauren & Michael Johnson
Kimberly & Robert Jones
Patricia & Jeffrey Jones
Cinthia & Peter Joyce
Katherine & Britt Joyce
Wanda & Chuck Kaminski
Emily Kay
Chase Kern
Aysun & Orkin Kilic
Julie & Ulrik Knap
Tyler Knudson
Joelle & Eric Knudson
Pinky & Jim Kottoor
Anicia Mendez & Adam Krikorian
Martine Krishnan
Christy & Andrew Kubitz
Jessica & Bryan Lacour
Daniece & Chris Lahoud
Bernice & Randall Lake
Amy & Bill Lange
Kristen & Morgan Langley
Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard & Dan Leopard
Erin & Steve Levin
Diane Levitt
Joan & Jerome Libera
Catherine Lucy
Kaba Lundberg Family
Cameron Mabrie
Hilary & Rob Mahan
Catherine Martin Lutz & Monte Lutz
Kristina & Cameron Mabrie
Stephanie & Mark Maruyama
Sarah & Brandon Matloff
Samantha & Scott Maynard
Shivani & Raj Mehrotra
Marissa & Ben Messer
Sheri & Cas Milewski
Greg Miller
Diane & Richard Montgomery
Melanie & Nicholas Murray
Jessica Kase & Christopher Olness
Jeanne & John Oshiro
Ann & Mitch Ozawa
Ellen & Ben Padnos
William Passavia
Sally & Jason Peel
Tanya & Aaron Perlmutter
Colleen & CJ Pipkin
Jan & Chet Pipkin
Heather & Frederick Prelle
Lisa & Adam Quarello
Tiffany & David Quick
Katie & Jason Ranne
Kerry Riccio Aguero
Tara and Matt Riley
Jillian & William Robertson
Kacey & Jake Rose
Nathalie & Jim Rosen
Alison & Scott Rosenthal
Donna & Gary Rosenthal
Brittany & Tyler Rothenberg
Catherine Schneider
Sara & Shawn Sedlacek
Corinne and Tarek Shaer
Kate & Michael Sinclair
Marguerite and Rod Spackman
April & Roger Spencer
Shauna & Michael Spenley
Sandy & Joel Sprague
Carol Strohbehn
Ronnie & Adam Sullins
Amy & Bob Schwartz
Sheryl & Jeff Thaler
Courtney & Jay Tobin
Selena Hira-Toth & Stephen Toth
Elisabeth & Michael Unton
Jurgita & Einaras Von Gravrock
Mariel & Remco Waller
Rebecca & Eric Warfield
Wysh & Dan Weinstein
Chelsea & Adam Weitzman
Shannon & Michael Williams
Kathryn & Scott Withycombe
Bea & Larry Zimbalist
Carrie Wambach & Bill Zotti
Current as of June 12, 2025
