Lookout in the Classroom Fund

Help us expand our student media literacy and civic engagement initiative

This year, Lookout In The Classroom is serving more than half of Santa Cruz County’s 12,000 high school students – reaching throughout the area’s 10 school districts. We’ve won national recognition – a case study is in the works – and now we want to do more. 

This innovative program includes free access for public high school students, workshops and curriculum on media literacy, an annual scholarship contest, weekly Educator Alerts and other highly useful and tailored curriculum. 

The big idea: make local news more visible and easier to access every day in our schools. 

Your support can do so much! New funding provides access to many more students and teachers and helps us engage deeper with our students and reach farther across the county. Here are some examples of what your money can provide:

  • $20 Access for one local high school student
  • $100 Access for one local high school teacher
  • $500 An in-classroom workshop with a journalist
  • $1500 Our student journalism scholarship contest prize for 3 students

Please help us bring the students of today (and voters of tomorrow) into Santa Cruz County’s civic conversation – around factual and discussable local news – with the guidance of good teachers. Donate via the buttons above or here on this landing page.

Dr. Faris Sabbah

“Lookout represents a key partner to help us in our work towards critical thinking and helping our students feel a sense of relevance. They’ve started a journalism scholarship. They offer quizzes and instructional materials for teachers to use that really adheres to California standards. It helps connect students to the community and they have created a space for students to be able to express themselves and to publish their content.” 

Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County’s superintendent of schools

You may make your gift securely online by hitting the donate button or by sending a check made out to our nonprofit partner, Local Media Foundation. Checks should include “Lookout in the Classroom Santa Cruz County” on the memo line.

All gifts are tax-deductible.

Checks can be mailed to:

          Local Media Foundation
          P.O. Box 85015
          Chicago, IL 60689-5033

For any questions, please contact:

Ken Doctor, Founder & CEO of Lookout Local ken@lookoutlocal.com

Jamie Garfield, Director, Community and Philanthropic Engagement jamie@lookoutlocal.com

Lookout’s program is designed to make sure the people of Santa Cruz County have access to a steady stream of trusted, civic-essential news and information to support the local democracy. 

Donations to Local Media Foundation for this program are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. Please consult a tax adviser for details. No goods or services are provided in exchange for donations. This program is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.

YouTube video

SCHOOL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

WINNING THE PULITZER PRIZE