Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) supporters and volunteers will be rallying at Manhattan Beach school sites on Thursday, November 6, urging families and other community members to pledge to support the foundation.

MBEF supporter Two Guns Espresso will bolster the effort by providing complimentary coffee.

The Manhattan Beach Education Foundation (MBEF) is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that raises money to improve and enhance the education provided in Manhattan Beach public schools. MBEF helps fill the gap between what the state provides the district and what it costs to provide a well-rounded, quality education for students.

MBEF will grant $5.4 million to the Manhattan Beach Unified School District in 2013-14. This money will pay for more than 70 educators, including classroom teachers (to maintain small class sizes), guidance counselors, college and career counselors, librarians, science and reading enrichment teachers, music teachers, 21st century curriculum development and a district-wide reading and writing initiative.

MBEF's goal is to have 100 percent of the families whose children attend Manhattan Beach public schools to contribute to MBEF.  To learn more about MBEF, or to pledge, visit www.mbef.org.