Oak Avenue School first-graders Camron Martin, left, and Nicholas Fravala help get the word out for the Los Altos Educational Foundation’s annual fund-raising campaign.

The Los Altos Educational Foundation will kick its 2005-2006 fund-raising campaign into high gear with its annual phonathon Oct. 17-20.

The goal is to raise $100,000 more than last year, for a total of $1.45 million for educational enrichment in the Los Altos School District. Without foundation funds, certain districtwide programs - including library services, physical education, vocal and instrumental music, art aides, technology aides, computer instruction and class-size reduction - would not be possible.

The phonathon will be held at the Los Altos offices of Alain Pinel, Campi Properties, Cashin Company, Coldwell Banker and Intero, all of which have donated their facilities for the campaign. Volunteers will call parents to solicit donations that are often matched in part by community and business sponsors.

In addition, this year the foundation will attempt to gain the participation of every family in the district through a suggested tax-deductible donation of $700 per student enrolled.

Over the past two decades, the foundation has increased its annual fund-raising goal twentyfold to meet the growing needs of the district. More than 95 percent of the annual goal is achieved through contributions from parents matched by their employers. The foundation encourages anyone who is interested in the quality of children’s education to make a donation in any amount. The foundation is not endowed. It is a non-profit organization, and its tax ID is 94-2862793.

For more information, call 559-0445, or donate online at www.laefonline.org.