Paddle Raise for Programs

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.

2026 Paddle Raise

An Investment That Lasts: Growing the MBEF Endowment

For more than 40 years, the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation has been fueled by a shared belief: exceptional public schools are essential to a strong community. Early in MBEF’s history, a group of forward-thinking parents took the long view and established the MBEF Endowment—creating a permanent investment to support generations to come. Their foresight continues to strengthen our schools today.

At the 2026 Manhattan Wine Auction, the Paddle Raise will support the MBEF Endowment as we launch an ambitious effort: Grow $5 Million in 5 Years. This initiative reflects a commitment to long-term stability—ensuring MBEF can continue to fund critical programs and educational priorities regardless of shifting economic conditions or changes in state funding. It is a deliberate investment in consistency, resilience, and educational excellence.

By strengthening the Endowment now, we honor the families who built this foundation before us and extend the same promise to future students. Your support of the Paddle Raise helps secure a sustainable source of funding that will benefit Manhattan Beach schools for decades to come. Together, we can carry this legacy forward—investing not just in today’s classrooms, but in the future of public education in our community.

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

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