Building Momentum: The Hillmen Foundation's Impact in 2025-26
As we reflect on another successful year, the Hillmen Foundation is proud to celebrate the incredible impact we continue to make together. Thanks to the generosity of our alumni, families, businesses, community partners, and friends, we are helping provide opportunities that enrich the educational experience for Placer High students and strengthen the traditions that make our school and community so special.
I am pleased to share some of this year's accomplishments—made possible by YOU, our donors, supporters, volunteers, and advocates.
During the 2025–26 fiscal and school year, our all-volunteer foundation invested $111,752 directly into Placer High students and programs that receive little or no State and Federal funding, including:
$46,500 in Hillmen Foundation and Community-funded Scholarships
$28,148 for Academic Programs
$22,337 for Athletics
$11,129 for Student Activities
$3,638 for Alumni Endeavors
This year also brought exciting milestones in our fundraising efforts and, just as importantly, gave us plenty of opportunities to celebrate the Hillmen spirit together. Our annual Tailgater once again kicked off the school year with a fun evening of great food, fellowship, and football at the School Park Preserve. Seeing so many alumni, families, and supporters reconnect is always a highlight, and thanks to our Tailgater Partners, generous donors, guests, and dedicated board members, the event generated $18,754 to support Foundation programs. Mark your calendars and join us on Friday, September 4th for our 2026 Tailgater Party!
Building strong community partnerships remains one of the Foundation's greatest strengths. This year, those partnerships resulted in more than $15,000 designated for specific educational needs at Placer High. Highlights included a generous $10,000 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation, our third consecutive award, to support the school's innovative Business Leadership program. Pioneer Community Energy also invested in student success with a $2,500 contribution to the Science Department's NextGen Science initiative. In addition, we were proud to once again collaborate with the Navy League STEM Institute, the Placer County Council of the Navy League, and a generous local donor to provide startup equipment for Placer High's new Biomedical Science Program, launching this fall to inspire students interested in healthcare and medical careers.
Our momentum continued into the spring when the region's annual Big Day of Giving became the most successful in Hillmen Foundation history. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and incredible matching gifts from Dutch Bros Coffee and two anonymous supporters we surpassed our fundraising goal and raised a remarkable $41,472.
Those gifts, along with donations received throughout the year, generated more than $87,000 to support Foundation grants and Placer High programs. Combined with the $42,500 in scholarships the Foundation administers on behalf of local businesses and community members, nearly $129,500 was raised this year to benefit Placer High students and programs, both now and for years to come.
Since our founding in 1989, the Hillmen Foundation has invested more than $1.18 million to enrich the educational experience at Placer High School. Every dollar represents the generosity of people who believe in our students and the dedication of volunteers who work tirelessly to turn that generosity into meaningful opportunities.
Looking ahead, we know the needs of our students and school will continue to evolve. The Hillmen Foundation remains committed to helping bridge funding gaps, expand opportunities, and provide the margin of excellence our students deserve. With your continued support, we are confident the best is yet to come.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, thank you for believing in our mission and investing in future generations of Hillmen. Your generosity truly makes a lasting difference.
We look forward to keeping you informed about our work throughout the coming year. Until then, thank you for being an important part of the Hillmen Foundation family.
Go Hillmen!
