Fundraiser Benefits Students Struggling in Santa Monica Schools

Hundreds gathered at a Malibu home this month to raise funds for the Emily Shane Foundation's SEA program.

The Successful Education program is providing free one-on-one mentoring to middle school students at schools in Malibu, Santa Monica and soon in Oxnard.

Ellen Shane started the program following the death of her daughter, Emily, on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu in April 2010. Emily was struck and killed by a suicidal driver, who was convicted of second-degree murder last year.

"It's very gratifying for me seeing this seed I planted starting to grow," Shane said.

Working from her kitchen table at her Malibu home, Ellen Shane said the program, which works through the Boys and Girls Club, got underway officially at the beginning of October and is already making a difference.

Students are already being served at Malibu High and Middle School and John Adams Middle School and Saint Anne School in Santa Monica.

The inspiration for the program came for Emily's issues with processing. Shane said she was able to get her daughter the help she needed to succeed, but other students are not so lucky.

In exchange for the mentoring, students are asked to take part in the Emily Shane Foundation’s “Pass it Forward” campaign by performing any good deed or act of kindness and then enter it on the foundation's website.

Learn more at EmilyShane.org.