LAUSD FUND-RAISER RETURNS FOR 3RD YEAR.

Byline: Luz Villarreal Daily News Staff Writer

For a third year, the Los Angeles Unified School District is sending envelopes home with students seeking donations on behalf of 11 charities - which took in $1.4 million from the effort last year.

District officials say the "Dare to Care" program - which continues through March 29 - teaches compassion and helps improve the communities in which their students reside.

"If we want our children to be compassionate, we have to start in the schools," said Alexandra Selna, chairwoman of the fund-raiser and principal of Latona Avenue Elementary School in Montecito Heights.

Participation in the Consolidated Charitable Campaign is strictly optional and doesn't cost the district money. Even so, some parents feel the district should stick to raising funds for schools.

"Public school parents . . . would rather see their money going directly to their school sites," said Kande Grabiner, president of the West Valley Chapter of Parents for Public Schools and a parent of a Wilbur Avenue Elementary School student in Tarzana.

Helen Fallon of Venice, a parent who is active in school issues in the Westside area, said she objects to enlisting students in fund raising.

"Since when it is the job of the students to be raising funds for these agencies?" she asked. "As it is, parents are being hit up all the time to support their local schools. You're sending the kids to school for what? To raise money?"

But Cheryl Sanders, president of the PTA at Lockhurst Elementary School in Woodland Hills, said she supports the campaign.

"Anytime you can give to charity that needs help is wonderful and it's important," said Sanders, who was speaking as a parent and not a representative of the PTA. "I certainly don't think that giving to charity is taking away from any educational means. But, I can understand the questions being raised."

The Los Angeles Unified School District used to administer four separate fund-raisers a year for individual agencies but consolidated the effort into an annual campaign in 1993 after it was approached by a fifth agency.

With the consolidation campaign, the school board opened the process up and set certain guidelines, one of which requires that an agency serve as umbrella organization representing at least 15 other groups benefiting the Los Angeles area. The campaign is open to any agency that can meet the requirements, district officials said.

Participating agencies include the United Way, Earth Share of California, the Los Angeles Women's Foundation, Brotherhood Crusade, the LAUSD Scholarship Fund and School Based Health Clinics.

Selna said the campaign does not cost the district money. The charities pick up printing costs and district employees volunteer their time to coordinate the fund-raiser.

Board of Education member Julie Korenstein said the campaign was developed to make it easier for employees, students and parents to contribute to charities.

"People have always given to charities," she said. "This is not anything that is mandated. This has nothing to do with paying more taxes."