About BVEF

The Bennett Valley Education Foundation (BVEF) was established in 1992 when state budget cuts threatened arts education in our local schools. A group of concerned parents formed an ad hoc committee to take action — and from that effort, BVEF was born. More than three decades later, BVEF continues to preserve and expand arts education for every student in the Bennett Valley Union School District. Our mission is to support and enhance the educational experiences of the students of the Bennett Valley Union School District by funding the visual art, music, theater, dance, and Odyssey of the Mind programs at Yulupa and Strawberry Elementary Schools.

Why is elementary-level arts education important? Over the past two decades, much research has demonstrated that students who make art and/or play instruments demonstrate better reading ability and also score better in both science and mathematics. And the benefits don’t stop there. Creative practices promote self esteem, improve hand-eye coordination, give rise to creative problem solving, and activate both sides of the brain. Because our teachers also introduce the students to visual artists and musicians from a range of eras and places, our programs provide cultural and historical context. Perhaps most importantly, creative practice nourishes the spirit every bit as much as it does the mind!