Last week, Dr. David Hufton, a 90-year-old Milpitas resident, donated $150,000 to the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD).
MUSD Board President Hon Lien and Superintendent Cheryl Jordan stopped by his home to thank him for his donation with a Certificate of Recognition. They also gifted Dr. Hufton with a personal thank you letter, various school shirts, MUSD mugs, and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.
“On behalf of MUSD, I would like to thank Dr. Hufton for his generosity. His donation assists MUSD in tackling the budget crunch caused by the current pandemic,” said Lien. “Moreover, it shows that the hard work and dedication of MUSD leadership and staff have won the trust and support from the philanthropists in the community. We are determined to work hard for our students and appreciate the trust we receive.”
The pandemic has affected the district in a multitude of ways. In a recent MUSD press release, it was mentioned that the Student Nutrition Department, which has distributed 200,000 free meals to families since sheltering in place started, was significantly impacted. The Department, which had about $280,000 in reserves, is now operating at a $302,000 deficit. Other COVID-related expenditures, along with Governor Gavin Newsom’s state budget reduction of 10% from Education, have made it necessary for MUSD to shift $15 million in reserve funds in an effort to balance its 2020-21 budget.
Dr. Hufton’s donation was undoubtedly much-needed at this time.
