Welcome to the Spanish Education Fund
The Spanish Education Fund (SEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in 2009. Our purpose is to raise money and recruit parent volunteers to support the International Teaching Intern Program at Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School (K-6), Central Middle School (7-8) and Eden Prairie High School (9-12).
Interns from Spanish speaking countries from around the world assist teachers and students in classrooms at these schools, providing a unique educational resource that has been proven extremely valuable to language acquisition, by bring their language and cultures to life. As a result, students become more confident in their ability to communicate in Spanish and create connections to people and places outside of their own world.
In addition to fundraising, we work with school staff to review and select intern candidates, recruit host and buddy families for the interns from our parent community for the duration of their stay, collect donations of winter clothing, organize parent volunteers to provide transportation for interns, and many other things to ensure interns have a positive experience while in the U.S. gaining valuable experience in the field of education.
Our Mission
Support the Eden Prairie Spanish immersion program, through sustainable funding, to host the best volunteer international Spanish speaking interns and provide other educational and cultural resources.
Latest News
Fundraising
Ian Leonard is back! We are so excited to announce the return of our favorite meteorologist and TV personality as the host of our annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta on Friday, May 5th!
If you were lucky enough to attend a past Cinco event when Ian led our evening, then you recall the excitement, camaraderie and FUN that Ian brings to the evening! Planning is underway for the Spanish Education Fund’s (SEF) Cinco de Mayo Fiesta to be held Friday, May 5th at 6pm at Minnesota Valley Country Club in Bloomington. Tickets for the event will go on sale April 1st at 8am, with sales ending April 28th. Tickets are $85 each with the value above cost being donated directly to the SEF Intern Program. You may sponsor an intern or teacher/staff member for the reduced rate of $50.
The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is the SEF end-of-year, adults-only celebration that pulls together parents, teachers, and administration for a time of celebration and inspiration as we recognize the outstanding Interns and Eden Prairie Staff members. This event will include a social hour, dinner, Intern celebration, cork pull, beer pong and a LIVE AUCTION! We will also be running an online auction as we did the previous year.
Cinco Volunteers & Auction Donations Needed
We invite parents to contribute to this fun event by donating bottles of wine to the cork pull (valued at $30 or more), donating items to the auction and, of course, by attending!!
Click on this sign-up genius to find opportunities to donate and/or volunteer your time. WE ARE IN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PROCURE AUCTION ITEMS! Please consider donating your time as it truly is only with parent support that we can make this amazing event a success!
- Tickets to Sports, Theater, Music Events, Museums or Movies
- Travel/Timeshares/Cabins
- Host a Wine Tasting Party/ Poker or Family Game Night
- Host a dinner/ Theme Party
- Cooking, Music or Art Lessons for kids or adults
- Unique Experiences/ Boat Outings
- Home-Cooked Meals or Baked Goods
- Food and Wine
- Collectibles
- Gift Cards for restaurants, Stores, Activities, Services: Car wash, Salon, Spa, Fitness Studio
Questions? Contact Laura Bjelogrlic, SEF Fundraising Coordinator.
Intern Update
From Intern Coordinator Daniela Garcia:
BRRR. I think the interns aren’t the only ones wondering when this cold will go away. With Spring break around the corner, many interns have made plans to visit a different (and warmer) state. After all they do here in our schools, I think it is well deserved and I hope they have a great relaxing time off.
Last Saturday, the interns were brave enough to take part in the polar plunge. Besides losing a pair of glasses in the water, they all considered this a great experience and are happy to say they jumped into a frozen lake. Thanks to everyone who donated for this great cause and for supporting our intern program!
To learn more about the interns in our schools, please visit the intern program page.
Meet the 2022-23 Interns
Alejandra Cortez Nina Busquets Costas Karla Rivera
El Salvador Spain El Salvador
Kindergarten Kindergarten 1st Grade
Melani Cortes Alex Ramirez Aina Cortacans
Colombia El Salvador Spain
1st Grade 2nd Grade 2nd Grade
Lucas Gonzalez Silvia Martinez Anthony Umanzor
Spain Spain El Salvador
3rd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade
Maura Herrera Elkin Raiño Catalina Salazar
El Salvador Colombia Chile
5th Grade CMS CMS
Jose Gil
Colombia
Eden Prairie High School
Volunteers Needed!
We have quite a number of open committee positions, varying in time and commitment levels throughout the entire year.
These are the immediate positions we need to fill for next year. Please contact Mary Krebs if you are can volunteer for one of these roles.
- Vice Chair
- Host Family Coordinator
- Intern Coordinator
- Driving Coordinator
This link shows a detailed list of all of the open positions we are in need of volunteers for. You can sign up on the SEF Open Positions Sign Up Genius to volunteer for any of these positions. If you would like to discuss any of these positions further before committing, please feel free to reach out to SEF Chair Mary Krebs.
Host and Buddy Families Needed for Next Year
Wednesday, March 15, 7:30-8:30pm
Monday, April 3, 7:30-8:30pm
Thursday, April 27, 8:00-9:00pm
Sunday, May 21, 6:00-7:00pm
Contact Mary Krebs for Zoom link.
Buddy Family Application – https://docs.google.com/
Host Family Application – https://docs.google.com/
Please contact Mary Krebs if you have questions on any of these rewarding opportunities.
Annual Contributions
Thank you to all the families who have already made their 2022-2023 contributions. In a typical year, the SEF budgets $60K in parent contributions to sponsor the interns in our program. As of January, 2023 we have collected $28K. If we do not reach our goal, we must begin reducing the number of interns we can invite to our school next year. For the 2023-2024 school year we are hoping to have 16 interns, but as of now can only sponsor 4.
Please remember that annual contributions are the SEF’s primary source of funding for the Intern Program. We receive no financial support from the school district or schools. You can make your annual contribution (suggested contribution: $150/child) below or online at www.spanisheducationfund.
Your support is vital to the continuation of this important component of our children’s immersion education. Thank you for your support!
Employer matching
Don’t forget… employer matching and workplace-based donation campaigns are another source of funding for the intern program. Many employers will match their employee’s donation, doubling the gift. Several families participate in these each year. To find out if your company matches, contact your human resources department.
Payment Options:
PayPal: info@spanisheducationfund.org
SEF is now on Venmo!
Monthly Annual Contribution
Want to spread out your Annual Contribution into budget friendly monthly payments? Select a monthly payment option from the drop down menu and click the SUBSCRIBE button below instead to make monthly Annual Contribution donations.
| Monthly Payment Options |
Checks
Make checks payable to the Spanish Education Fund and mail to:
SEF Treasurer
c/o Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion School
13400 Staring Lake Parkway
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
SEF Federal Tax ID# 27-0584708
Spanish Education Fund | Expanding our children’s world
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