Cabrillo Education Foundation

Because high school should connect students to real life.

At Half Moon Bay High School, 850 students are not just earning credits. They are discovering purpose.

Real Life Learning moves education beyond the classroom and into the community. Students serve alongside local nonprofits. They mentor children. They assist at community events. They train in emergency response. They shadow professionals. They explore careers. They reflect on who they are becoming.

And it is working.

Since launching in 2021, Real Life Learning has grown to:
• 120+ active community partners
• 219 professional mentors in our Career Connections network
• Weekly access to job, internship, and volunteer opportunities for every student
• School-wide Service Jams and Job Fairs connecting students directly to opportunity

But the impact is not in the numbers. It is in the transformation.

Students are discovering passions for teaching, medicine, public safety, civic leadership, social work, theater production, business ownership, and more.
They are learning time management, communication, leadership, and resilience.
They are gaining confidence and a sense of belonging.

One student shared:
“There’s nothing stopping you from achieving greatness. The only thing holding you back is yourself.”

That clarity comes from experience.

Real Life Learning strengthens our entire Coastside community. Nonprofits gain reliable support. Young children gain role models. Local professionals mentor the next generation. Students see that they matter here.

For $42,500, we can sustain and expand this program for the 2026–27 school year, ensuring that every HMBHS student has access to meaningful service, career exploration, and mentorship.

This is not just a volunteer program.
It is a launchpad.

When students are connected to their community, they develop purpose.
When they develop purpose, they thrive.

We invite you to invest in the future of Half Moon Bay by investing in the students who will shape it.