With a doctorate in educational leadership from San Francisco State University, Mary E. Streshly sits on the board of directors for the Bay Area Gardener’s Scholarship Foundation. Alongside other appointments and membership in education-related organizations, Mary Streshly was also a member of the Cabrillo Education Foundation (CEF).

Founded in 2006, the Cabrillo education foundation, in partnership with Cabrillo Unified School District, aims to promote educational enrichment for students in the local public schools. A nonprofit, the foundation has built over a $3 million endowment fund to benefit students. From the fund and other fundraising efforts, the organization has allocated over $1 million to 3,200 students in the Cabrillo unified school district.

The foundation funds elementary, middle, and high school. For elementary school, the primary focus areas include literacy, next-generation science, and college and career readiness. Besides the elementary offerings for middle school, it also adds social and emotional learning and innovation. Lastly, the high school funding covers science collaboration, college and career readiness, social and emotional learning, scholarships, and innovation.

The innovation grant, established in 2016, supports innovative projects that aim to enrich student learning experiences and develop them holistically. The grant helps the students and teachers involved in realizing the projects.