BONSALL – The Bonsall Education Foundation (BEF), a non-profit foundation that funds grants in support of academic excellence for the Bonsall Union School District (BUSD), announced last week that the "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day" Sullivan Middle School campus beautification project, held on March 6, was a huge success. Hundreds of volunteers came out to Sullivan Middle School to earn their free Disney® ticket as part of a well-orchestrated volunteer work plan organized by Julie Koleszar, BEF Board Member and Disney Program Manager for BEF.

Disney® wanted to inspire one million people to volunteer for a day of service to a participating organization in their communities. In return for volunteers’ good works participants each get a one day park ticket to the Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort, for free. Koleszar spearheaded the effort for BEF and after a multi-month review process, the Bonsall Education Foundation (BEF) became an approved organization Advertisement

[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] of the HandsOn Network "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day."

"Julie worked tirelessly on this program to ensure its success" said BEF President Erica Perko, "Janet Whiddon, Principal at Sullivan Middle School and her team, worked hand in hand with Julie Koleszar to develop the volunteer work plan for the day and the school has benefited greatly from the effort." Volunteers, mostly local community members, but some who came as far as Los Angeles, worked side by side in an outpouring of community spirit, planting gardens, clearing brush, painting fences, cleaning facilities and performing innumerable other tasks as part of the day of service.

Philippe Brilliant, groundsman for BUSD, estimated that the work performed by volunteers would have taken him two years to complete. Brilliant and other members from the district were active participants in the beautification effort. Several local businesses also showed their support by donating time, equipment and materials.