Three Valleys Community Foundation and We Are Pleasanton hosted a commemorative plaque unveiling event earlier this month to recognize all of the donors who helped fund Foothill High School’s stadium upgrades.
The upgrades, which were completed two years ago and included the construction of a fully accessible pathway to the stadium field, were made possible thanks to a community fundraising campaign that raised nearly $250,000 for the project, according to a press release from 3VCF.
“We Are Pleasanton is proud to support our exceptional Pleasanton schools by helping raise funds that enhance facilities for students and families,” We Are Pleasanton founder Todd Utikal said in the May 7 press release. “Our schools are one of the reasons so many families choose Pleasanton, and through the generosity of businesses and community members, we can continue investing in spaces that bring people together and strengthen community pride.”
Back in 2022, the Pleasanton Unified School District began construction on the stadium’s pathway to the sports fields following a complaint from the North Coast Section stating that Foothill’s stadium did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
During the two-phase project, PUSD created two new ADA-compliant parking spots near the baseball field, a walkway from those parking spots to the field and an ADA-compliant walkway from the nearest ADA-compliant parking near the tennis complex to the front entry of the stadium. The project also saw the construction of a switch-back ramp leading to the lower field, ADA seating and upgraded lighting and sound systems.
“The new pathway ensures that individuals of all abilities can more fully participate in school and community events, while the broader stadium improvements will continue to benefit generations of students, families, and residents for years to come,” according to the 3VCF press release.
Although PUSD completed the upgrades and overall renovation two years ago, 3VCF — the Tri-Valley’s philanthropic nonprofit — decided to honor all of the people and organizations who made this project possible thanks to their donations during a May 1 commemorative plaque unveiling ceremony.
One of the organizations that was honored during the ceremony was We Are Pleasanton, a community-run organization founded by a group of citizens which raises money for PUSD projects. The organization was also the main entity that led the $250,000, six-week fundraising campaign for the stadium improvement project.
“The We Are Pleasanton effort is an exceptional example of the community rallying behind Todd Utikal’s leadership to address an acute need at Foothill High School,” John Sensiba, chair of the 3VCF board of directors, said in the organization’s press release. “3VCF removed the friction from the effort by providing the nonprofit infrastructure necessary to raise and disburse the funds without the formation of a separate nonprofit organization that would come with the accompanying costs and complexities. 100% of the donations were able to be used to fund the improvements.”
According to 3VCF, the permanent plaque “honors the lead donors whose vision and support helped make these lasting improvements a reality.” Some of the donors listed in the plaque include We Are Pleasanton, the Workday Foundation, and over a dozen other businesses, organizations and families.
One of the families included in the commemorative plaque is the Yamashita family, one of the top donors who, at the time, did not realize how impactful the upgrades would be for themselves when one of their own experienced a “life-changing injury”.
“To have the chance to play a small role in making the campus more accessible for students with all abilities is an endeavor that has always resonated with us and now holds a special meaning for our family after our son Landon’s spinal cord injury in 2024,” Kevin Yamashita said in the 3VCF press release. “Thank you to everyone involved and for blessing us with the opportunity to participate.”
