A Successful 2024-2025 School Supplies Campaign!
By Nicole R. Washington, CHS ’80
Last November, the Cleveland High School Class of 1980 collaborated with the CHS Alumni Association (CHSAA) to promote the Alumni Classic Retro T-Shirt and Sweatshirt Fundraiser. The Class of ’80 wanted to support the CHS Alumni Association by helping purchase school supplies for Cleveland School students and faculty for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Mighty Eagle Spirit shone brightly with the alumni community’s incredible response and support for the fundraiser!
On March 15th, during the annual alumni meeting, Nicole R. Washington, Class of ’80, proudly presented CHSAA President Tracy (Case) Arnold with a $1,000 contribution for school supplies for their beloved Cleveland High School.
2024 Accomplishments for Cleveland High School Alumni Association
Through the generous donations of our alumni, the CHS Alumni Association:
- Provided 90 new filled Emergency Backpacks to the school ($7,398.96*)
- Back to school supplies for school – $10,590*
- Donations to CHS Sports – $6,590
- Baseball – $5,000 for home run fence, porta phone pitch com, indoor batting cage rentals
- Soccer – $1,500 for 22 varsity warmups, 10 balls & 40 socks
- Track – updated record board ($90** – covered by 1964 donation)
- Class of 1964 – donated $13,267.79
- Purchase two TV monitors in cafeteria (including the required wiring to bring the connectivity to the required levels) – $5,111.34
- The remaining amount went to the Emergency Backpacks*, Back to School supplies and updating Track record board**
- Class of 1980 – donated $1,015 each to the Alumni Association (for the Memorial Forest) and to the CHS PTSA.
- The Class of 1980 sold classic retro t-shirts and sweatshirts to raise the money.
- Donation to CHS InvestED and Social Services – $2,000
- Caps & gowns for 13 students, 14 yearbooks, 8 prom tickets, and overall support of other needs (food pantry, clothing, assistance)
- Donation to CHS Art department ($750)
- Donation to the new CHS Woodworking Club to purchase woodworking equipment for club ($650)
- Annual Memorial Day Trek with 60 CHS students to the CHS Memorial Forest – $274, plus $1,933 in kind donations
- Provided bus transportation for the CHS Staff retreat to the CHS Memorial Forest ($1,733 in kind donation by Frank Leonzal, ’83, The Class of 1983, and FIRST Transportation)
- Provided beverages and treats for the attendees ($200 in kind donations)
- Covered costs of substitutes at CHS ($260)
- Provided transportation for the CHS Staff retreat to the CHS Memorial Forest ($3,060 in kind donation from Frank Leonzal, ’83, The Class of 1983, and FIRST Transportation)
- Supported the PTSA “Red & White” auction June 1st (money from individual alumni provided directly to the PTSA)
- Seattle’s Favorite (Mishell Case Postma, Class of 1989) in kind donations of treats for various events
- 22 scholarships presented to 2024 CHS seniors, totaling $35,050.
- Two of these scholarships were part of the Ed Landon Educational Scholarship Fund ($5,000).
- The amount provided in 2024 was in part to a generous donation in memory of Margaret Imus.
- Honored the first Cleveland High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame honor to Emil Martin (Martincevic), Class of 1940.
- Clean up of membership database saving at least $300.
- Received $107,521.91 in donations.
In addition:
- The CHS Alumni Association held its annual trekto Cleveland High School Memorial Forest on the Friday before Memorial Day with students and staff from CHS and CHS alumni.
- The Class of 1980 alumni (along with a 1981 alumnus) volunteered to assist the Class of ’64 with their 60th Class Reunion activities.
- A group of Cleveland High School students and new CHS 2024 alumni volunteered to give tours of the school for the Class of 1964.
- Continued to work with CHS Principal Jeff Lam and staff to establish their goals, wants, and needs for the school, and to ensure continued partnership between Alumni Association and the school.
- Created two new committees to support our alumni and the Cleveland Memorial Forest:
- CHS Alumni Veterans Committee
- CHS Alumni Earth Day Committee
- Continued our partnership with CHS Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA).
- The CHS Alumni Association continued to support Class Reunions activities held in 2024 with advertisements in the CHSAA Newsletter, Website, and Social Media sites. This included speaking at reunions to raise awareness about the Alumni Association and its mission.
The Forest is protected!

Cleveland High School Memorial Forest Conservation Easement Agreement with King County and Memorandum of Understanding with the Cleveland High School Alumni Association
On March 10, 2021 the Cleveland High School Alumni Association was successful in its efforts to convince Seattle Public Schools (SPS) to sell the development rights to the Memorial Forest to King County Parks Department (KCPD). This major accomplishment means
- SPS retains ownership of the property
- SPS collects $3.47 million from KCPD
- Easement placed on the property to restrict development
- Property is added to KCPD Forest Conservation plan
- CHS alumni can rest assured that the property is protected.
Details about this meeting can be found at SeattleSchools.org:
- CHSAA is allowed to provide a new concrete sign “The Cleveland High School Memorial Forest”
- SPS will consider rebuilding the existing lyceum ($120K-$150K)
- CHSAA and SPS will consider a feasibility study for managing the CHS Memorial Forest, featuring selective harvesting and replanting
The Landon Plaque
The Ed Landon plaque, which was conceived by Mary Ann Bosnich McCord ’57 and designed by John Barton ’54 and Bernie Moskowitz ’57. This is a bronze plaque located in the Ed Landon Library at Cleveland High School.

The Granite Monument
CHS Veteran's Memorial
The CHS Veteran’s memorial, which was conceived by Bernie Moskowitz ’57 and designed by John Barton ’54, Bernie Moskowitz ’57 and Mary Lou (Zarkades) Barton ’54.
This memorial is located at Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington Washington where Bernie is the lead bugler.

