About | The SAWS Foundation

President

Staci Hurlimann

I was a classroom teacher in the Twin Rivers Unified School District from 2017-2023 before taking a break to complete my J.D. Before I taught, I worked in the field of applied behavioral analysis as a behavior consultant working with children and adults with developmental disabilities for almost 10 years. I have been passionate about education and working with children for as long as I can remember. Working in the education field really opened my eyes to a lot of the ways in which we are still failing to meet the needs of the communities we serve. I became bound and determined to be a part of the solution and this non-profit was my first step in doing so.

Vice President/Secretary

Anthony Dean

Anthony is originally from Detroit, MI. He has dedicated his life to assisting families and working with youth. Throughout his life, he has experienced many of the pitfalls that prevent upward mobility in our society and is familiar with the struggles facing those in the community. He chose to study Social Work at Sacramento State and is close to completing his program. At SAWS, he is able to apply his life experience and education to solutions that contribute positively to the community. I met Anthony while working at TRUSD and immediately recognized a kindred spirit in him. His contributions to SAWS have been invaluable.

Treasurer

Alexander Hurlimann

Alex was born and raised in the Sacramento area. He comes from a family of cattle ranchers in Siskiyou County and has seen firsthand how a socioeconomically disadvantaged community struggles and how far assistance can go. He has maintained a successful career in sales and finance for the past 10 years. His business expertise and guidance have made such a difference in helping SAWS to reach as many people as possible. Being married to me, he is currently working his butt off to support his family while I finish my doctorate and work on growing The SAWS Foundation so that we can help as many kids in the community as possible.

Board Member

Chase Peterson

Chase was born and raised in Sacramento, California. Through his experience working in and managing After School Programs, he has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of equity and empowerment. He prioritizes and has successfully created effective and inclusive learning environments for the students in the community in The Del Paso Heights and Foothill areas. He has seen firsthand the positive impact that a supportive and engaging educational environment can have on students' academic growth and personal development. He believes in the power of education to empower individuals and communities and is committed to creating a space where all students can thrive!

Board Member

Danielle Hamilton-Baugh

Bio Coming Soon

Board Member

Nick Hernandez

Bio Coming Soon

Why?

Children living in poverty have a higher number of absenteeism or leave school all together because they are more likely to have to work or care for family members.

Dropout rates of 16 to 24-years-old students who come from low income families are seven times more likely to drop out than those from families with higher incomes.

By the end of the 4th grade, African-American, Hispanic and low-income students are already 2 years behind grade level. By the time they reach the 12th grade they are 4 years behind.

Less than 30% of students in the bottom quarter of incomes enroll in a 4 year school. Among that group – less than 50% graduate.

Click Here to read an article on "The Impact of Poverty on Educational Outcomes for Children"