Until 1991, the project was purely a fund-raiser. Though its working-in-teams approach and academic focus made organizers proud, they felt something was missing.

At that time, 10 percent of the money raised was spent on prizes for the students who got the most sponsors and for classes that answered the most questions correctly. Project organizers proposed that, instead of the prizes, each class would give 10 percent of what it raised to a local non-profit organization in the community. Students were delighted with the idea!

"I can think of no better way to conduct a school fund-raiser than to tie it to the curriculum."

Dr. Richard Scardamaglia
Superintendent of Schools, Retired
Rincon Valley School District
Santa Rosa, CA

In 1993, SCDS invited a neighboring public school district to participate as well. In the first year, the four schools raised $50,000, donating $5,000 to local non-profits.

Because of an initial grant from the Kendall-Jackson Foundation, the Brain Wave exists today as a community project / fundraiser for any elementary school in the country!!!

More and more schools are joining the project, and in 1998, our first out of state school joined in Summerville South Carolina. In seven years, over 60,000 students at 56 elementary schools have participated in this project, while raising $1.8 Million for their schools, of which $180,000 has been donated, by Brain Wave students, to over 754 non-profit organizations.

This year we were assisted by the Sonoma County Community Foundation and 54 business underwriters who contributed $35,000 to show their pride in education and supporting The Great Academic Brain Wave® so schools can keep 80% of the money they raise.

"The Great Academic Brain Wave is an exciting and public way for everyone to see academic excellence and philanthropy working together. It is an excellent and worthwhile program."

Tom Crawford
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools