Dads group changes its school fundraising focus with changing times
From gathering crayons and whiteboards in the ‘90s to investing in Chromebooks and robotics classes today, a dads group formed almost 20 years ago at Andersen Elementary School in Newport Beach is still focused on raising funds for school supplies and other student resources, no matter what new needs the passage of time might bring.
Since its beginning in 1997, Dads Eliminating Andersen’s Needs, or DEANs, has held many fundraisers for the school, including its first helicopter golf ball drop on campus Friday.
Joe Colgate and a couple of other fathers at Andersen founded DEANs for dads who wanted to help but couldn’t always make PTA meetings or who wanted to participate in more than coaching baseball.
“PTA meetings were during the day, which is very difficult if you’re a full-time working person,” said Colgate, who was on the DEANs board when his three daughters attended Andersen. “On the other hand, the DEANs met at night.
“Having your kids see what you’re doing to directly affect their daily life is one of the great side benefits of being a dad involved in their school.”
Colgate was DEANs’ president from 1997 to 1999 and then remained a member until 2003.
Current co-President John Hobson said he is most proud of raising funds for technology that students can use.
“Technology is a heavy investment, knowing that it’s going to be an important part of their future,” Hobson said. “We’ve invested in Chromebooks, computer classes and robotics classes.”
DEANs contributes more than $720 per child each school year, according to the group’s website. Andersen has about 380 students.
Colgate said DEANs’ biggest impact during his time with the group was bringing in bigger chairs for Andersen’s fifth- and sixth-graders, replacing chalkboards with whiteboards and getting laptops for the school.
“I was friends with the PTA president at the time, and after sitting down and saying that we are purely here to provide support for the infrastructure and resources for the school, then people got more comfortable with us,” Colgate said. “I had no idea it was going to blossom and sustain itself like it has.”
During its first year, the organization had about 40 dads, according to Colgate. By the next school year, the membership had doubled.
The group, which meets monthly, also welcomes mothers and stepfathers of Andersen students.
The DEANs golf ball drop fundraiser Friday showered about 1,800 balls on the school’s field.
Before the drop, students and their families could buy raffle tickets, each with a number corresponding to a golf ball. The first ball in the hole or the three closest balls to the hole were winners.
The event followed other activities this school year, such as the DEANs and PTA Pumpkin Patch carnival in October and the DEANs Dinner Dance in March.
Twitter: @AlexandraChan10
