What We Do

Broadscale Donations to Ponderosa High School

Mini-Grants

Since 2005, teachers, departments, athletic teams, and/or clubs have applied for grants from the PHS Foundation. The Foundation has awarded over $90,000 in grants. Some fantastic examples of grants are cooktops for the culinary program, keyboards, physics field trips, FFA jackets, special education grants, sheet music, robotics league competitions, a brain, graphing calculators, stethoscopes, reading books, smart board camera, lab coats, classroom tools, and golf cart batteries. We have donated to almost every subject area and department on campus as well as many clubs and athletic teams, positively impacting every Bruin.

The PHS Foundations offers two grant cycles per year--a fall cycle and a winter cycle. Teachers and staff complete a simple application form and a rotating Grants Committee made of up Directors of the Board awards up to $500 per application.

Senior Scholarships

Since 2005, $38,500 in student scholarships have been awarded. In our continuing effort to impact the education of as many Bruins as possible, we are expanding our scholarship program.

Four-year Scholarship- As always, we will continue to award $1000 scholarships to Ponderosa graduates who plan to further their education by attending a four-year university or college.
Vocational/Community College Scholarship- Added in the 2024/25 school year, we began giving $500 scholarships to Ponderosa graduates who plan to further their education by attending a vocational school or community college.
Tool Bucket Scholarship- This year we will be adding Tool Bucket Scholarships. Not all Ponderosa graduates are college-bound. Our Tool Bucket Scholarship helps recipients build a toolbox with new and repurposed items, get an internship, and help them to start earning.

Fill Their Bucket- Join PHSF and our partner, Churchill’s Hardware in Cameron Park, to fill the Tool Buckets. Scan this QR code or contact Jackson Robertson, Jackson.Roberstson@gmail.com or 650-455-6985.

Amazon Gifting for Teachers

Launched in 2021 this program of fulfilling teacher wish lists has been a huge success. By the end of 2025, 529 items have been donated to our teachers for a total of $11,500! Watch for your opportunity to donate in the spring and fall of every school year.