California Retired Teachers Association

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Description

California Retired Teachers Association members continue to support their profession even after they have left "active duty." The Laura E. Settle Foundation is a prime example of this continuing commitment. Over the years, the Foundation has bestowed millions of dollars in scholarships to California 's future teachers.

Today, with the state of California facing a looming teacher shortage, supporting students who are working hard toward careers as school teachers is even more important.

Established more than a half-century ago, the LES Foundation is funded primarily through contributions and bequests from CRTA members. The core endowment has grown to $1.5 million.

The program is administered through the financial aid offices of 31 participating University of California and California State University campuses. Scholarships are awarded to students in their junior, senior or graduate years in an accredited teaching program. The LES Foundation provides $2,000 scholarships to 31 students annually. Another 13 $300 grants from the affiliated Outler fund are also awarded to teachers who plan on working in elementary schools.

The foundation was established in the early 1950s in memory of CRTA's primary founder and first president. Laura E. Settle, a retired Pasadena schoolteacher, oversaw the creation of CRTA in 1929 and established its reputation as the primary protector of teachers' pensions.

Through her hard work and dedication, the association was responsible for the first increase in retirement benefits for California 's nearly-impoverished retired educators during the depths of the Depression. Her legacy lives on in the association's continuing efforts to protect the financial security of retired educators and in the members' dedication to supporting their profession.

On July 1, 2003, after a vote of the CRTA membership, the Foundation was established as a 501(c)(3) corporation so that contributions to the non-profit Foundation would be fully tax deductible as a charitable donation. The Foundation continues to be a fully owned subsidiary of CRTA but it has its own Board of Directors, Bylaws and Standing Rules.

Current LES Foundation officers are:


Chairman:
George Avak


Directors:
Joe Dion, Beverly Brennan, Jack Chertock, Eva Hain, Patricia Hines, Ann Jones


Ex-Officio:
Angelique Hill, CRTA Executive Director


If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the LES Foundation, click here!

News Archive

Aviator, teacher Harshbarger dies at 91 Whittier Daily News; 8/1/2009 ...praised him as "a man of great warmth, understanding and compassion." Harshbarger was a member of the California Retired Teachers Association, American Legion (Post 51), the Naval Reserve Association, the Association of Naval Aviation, and... ...more

Social Security Penalties Cost California Widow $19,000 Annually U.S. Newswire; 10/28/2009 ...Newberry of the California Retired Teachers Association, +1-916-419...public servants. The California Retired Teachers Association and the California...November 7 WHO: California Retired Teachers Association California Coalition... ...more

SEEN AT THE SCENE: St. Mary Guild has gallopin' good time Press-Telegram Long Beach, CA.; 10/17/2009 ...piano for the 150 retired teachers at the California Retired Teachers Association on Sept. 18. Ginny Baxter, Long Beach...scholarship. (In 1929 Settle started the California Retired Teachers Association. AARP was an offshoot of this organization... ...more