Flower shop benefits Newport-Mesa schools

Christine Carrillo

Jill and Rusty Wheeler just opened their flower shop, Fiore, in the

Newport Coast Shopping about two weeks ago. But along with selling

beautiful and creative bouquets of flowers, the Wheelers wanted to do

more -- and so they did.

The Wheelers decided that they would donate 10% of their profits

during the first week of every month to a local school, more

specifically to whatever school their customer chose.

They call it “Education in Bloom.” Their reason for doing it: they

wanted to give back to their community. They wanted to help their

local schools.

“I know Newport-Mesa is not as hard hit as some other districts,”

Jill said, adding that she understands the district’s financial

plight. “And [the schools] work so hard to get every dollar out of

their budget.”

With school money tight, the Wheelers saw their position as

business owners as one of a responsibility to helping the schools as

best they could.

“I hope that what we’re doing for them will make a difference,”

Jill said. “Even $10 can make a difference.”

Just as the Wheelers have decided to do their part in helping the

schools make their way through the state’s budget cuts, other local

businesses have lent a hand.

Many of them have been lending a hand, or in this case a pocket

book, to local schools for a while now.

“Our partnerships are always important,” said Barbara

Rothman-Haddock, principal at Lincoln Elementary School in Newport

Beach, who has a number of partnerships with local businesses. “When

we do get outside donations, we want to be careful that we don’t get

in a situation where you rely on it year after year, because it may

not always be there.”

While relying entirely on funding through business is not an

option for schools within the district, receiving donations from them

could certainly help schools with funding in areas such as supplies

and some forms of maintenance.

“We want to get more local businesses involved,” said Jane

Garland, communications and special projects coordinator for the

district. “One of my attempts is to get more businesses -- especially

now that we’re stepping up to the plate with money getting tighter.”

As district officials start broadening the scope of school funding

to include local businesses, and local businesses continue to reach

out to the schools through donations, the force that drives both of

them remains the same.

“It’s about education,” Rocky said. “That’s the ... core of our

country.”