Daniel Webster Elementary School received a much needed facelift in April. PREFund’s Stacey Bartlett led the application process that resulted in the school being selected by Rebuilding Together San Francisco (RBST) out of more than 100 applicants for rehabilitation services. RBST relies on volunteers from Bay Area corporations and community groups to repair, remodel and clean-up community facilities and homes for low-income and disabled people. RBST volunteers will return next year to paint the school’s classrooms and fix appliances.

RBST fielded more than a 100 volunteers from Ernst and Young, Charles Schwab and DreamWorks Animation, who worked alongside PREFund and Daniel Webster families. The dedicated volunteers painted the school’s exterior and created a beautiful neighborhood-oriented mural. DreamWorks artists designed the colorful painting, which can be seen from Texas and 20th streets, and depicts children playing on lush green hills complete with Potrero Hill’s historical goat mascots.

The much needed face lift compliments the rapid progress PREFund and Daniel Webster’s administration have made over the past three years to improve the school. Earlier this year Daniel Webster received approval to host a Spanish Immersion program starting in 2009. And in partnership with Mission Neighborhood Centers, PREFund has raised sufficient funds to open a Spanish bilingual preschool this fall on Daniel Webster’s campus that will serve as a natural feeder into the elementary school. The preschool already has a waiting list of Potrero Hill families that want to keep their children in their neighborhood and are hoping to do the same for elementary school.