MBEF’s ‘Seeds of Knowledge’ keeps growing

by Mark McDermott   

The Seeds of Knowledge, an art installation on Metlox Plaza that recognizes lifetime contributors to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation, added 13 new honorees at a ceremony in December. 

MBEF Endowment president Roger Spencer that the “extraordinary generosity” of the donors, each who have contributed at least $100,000.  

“It’s because of your unwavering belief in our mission, your generosity, and the early parents who laid this foundation that we continue to achieve so much for our students,” Spencer said. “On behalf of MBEF and our entire community, thank you for your dedication.” 

MBEF was founded in 1983, but its role in supporting the Manhattan Beach Unified School District has grown more critical over the last decade. The foundation has raised a total of $100 million for local schools and established a $27 million endowment. This growth in contributions has helped fill the gap created by chronic underfunding from the state, without which MBUSD would have been forced to lay off many more teachers and cut cherished programs. 

The Seeds of Knowledge installation, designed by artist Betsy K. Schulz, was unveiled in 2023. Schulz has completed more than 20 public art installations, including multiple projects at UC Davis and for the California State Parks, as well as numerous “donor recognition walls.” Seeds of Knowledge went beyond recognition of financial donors. It also includes longtime teachers, volunteers, and MBUSD support staff as well as every past president of the MBEF board. The idea was to show just how much this community values education, and how many people play a role in achieving MBUSD’s excellence. 

“The Seeds of Knowledge symbolizes what it means to be a community that places great emphasis on education, our children and families, and future generations,” said MBEF executive director Hilary Mahan. 

“I’d like to take a moment to recognize those whose names were recently included on the wall, because their investment of time and money has enabled us to make bold and significant decisions, and helped MBEF to create enduring programs that have had a very direct impact on our children’s education.” 

The 13 names added to the wall were Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Ashley McCarthy and Bret Barker, Lorin and Doug Dust, Lorena and Andrew Ellis, Jennifer and Chris Fenton, the Hott Family, Wanda and Chuck Kaminski, Lily Chang and Jeff Konsmo, Susan and Todd Purdy, Suzy and Mike Sadilek, Sherine and Sasha Siddhartha, Mariel and Remco Waller, and Wysh and Dan Weinstein.

“Your investment will reap rewards for generations to come,” Mahan said, “as each new graduating class goes into the world to make their mark.” 

Mira Costa senior Hudson Sagadevan thanks MBEF donors.

The final speaker at the ceremony personified the impact of the community’s investment in MBEF. Mira Costa senior Hudson Sagadaven gave a short, passionate, and highly effective speech. 

“Imagine this,” he said. “You’re standing in front of a science fair display, holding a robot that you programmed to follow a maze. Around you, there are paintings that could hang in museums, students rehearsing lines for a play, and a jazz band tuning up for their next song. Sounds like a scene out of a movie, right? Well, that’s a regular day at my school, thanks to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.” 

Sagadaven said that programs funded by MBEF not only transformed his education but his life. “When I first joined my school, I didn’t know where I belonged. But support from school counselors funded by MBEF has allowed me to find my place at Mira Costa, alongside guiding me through my educational journey,” he said. “But MBEF doesn’t stop there. It’s the reason we have smaller class sizes, which means my teachers actually know me—not just as a name on the roll call, but as a person with dreams and quirks. It’s why our STEM labs are stocked with tools that let us experiment, innovate, and occasionally blow things up.…in a safe way, of course.” 

Sagadaven finished the ceremony by directly addressing the donors. 

“You’re not just funding programs or grants. You’re funding futures,” he said. “You’re helping kids like me find their voice, their purpose, and their place in the world. And who knows? Maybe one day, thanks to you, one of us will compose the next great symphony, invent the next breakthrough technology, or even give a speech like this—only at the United Nations.” ER