In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations are directed to Palo Alto Partners in Education (www.papie.org), Friends of PreSchool Family (www.fopsf.org), or The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org).
Palo Alto Partners in Education is the non-profit fundraising organization for the public schools in Palo Alto. Ana-Maria dedicated some of her volunteer efforts to raising money through this group. Through PAPiE, funds are available to schools and individual teachers for special projects, including many of the arts and drama programs that Ana-Maria and Robert supported.
Friends of PreSchool Family provides support for the parent education/parent-participation program that Ana-Maria and Robert participated in when their daughters were young. Funds from Friends of PreSchool Family support parent-teacher conferences, music enrichments, and teacher home visits.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides person-to-person support for those in need and helped Ana-Maria’s family when they arrived in the United States as refugees from Angola.