Welcome to our no-frills foundation website.
Why no frills? Because we are a new, scrappy non-profit focused purely the educational, recreational, medical and nutritional welfare of underprivileged children.
We operate in the leanest way possible so that every penny of your tax deductible contribution goes directly to helping a child.
Our expert board consists of unpaid volunteers. Staffing at our fundraising events does, too. If we can’t do it for free, or darned close to free, we don’t do it.
But as you’ll see on the next page, that doesn’t stop us from doing a lot.
Summary of 2025 Accomplishments
| 2025 | From our president...
We’re extremely proud of our accomplishments this year, especially since that we didn’t receive confirmation of our tax-exempt status from the state of California until June, leaving us only a half year with which to work. We began 2025 by allocating funds to purchase and construct a playset for the children who reside at the Jenesse Center for battered women. Later in the year, we orchestrated a clothing drive to benefit their families, ultimately curating more than 1,000 pieces of brand new and very lightly used items. In the fourth quarter, IMAF donated over $4,800 to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and $1,200 to Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital of Long Beach, funds raised through three benefit events and an appeal to the parent community of International Montessori Academy. We’re looking forward to ever greater accomplishments in 2026. Our sincere thanks to our wonderful volunteer board members as well as all the donors who helped – and continued to help -- make our efforts possible. Isabella Sollitto |
| Upcoming | Check back soon to learn about our 2026 initiatives. Â More info. |
Pictured above is the playset we purchased, assembled and installed for the Jenesse Center. Below is our president organizing some of the more than 1,000 clothing and personal care items we collected for the center. 
How our preschool scholarships are valued and awarded.
One of the ways in which the International Montessori Academy Foundation helps children is by awarding scholarships to high quality Montessori schools including the International Montessori Academy. Â
It is important to note that these scholarships are valued at cost; No profit derives to the school from them. In fact, each scholarship actually costs the school since it allocates an enrollment opening that would otherwise be taken by a family able to pay full tuition. All calculations related to this are audited annually.
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IMAF Board of Volunteer Directors
Isabella Sollitto is currently enrolled in a Master's of Education program at Loyola Marymount University where she is also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology and Tau Sigma American Honors Society.
Jordan Sollitto was executive vice president, international at Warner Bros. Entertainment. He serves as secretary and treasurer of IMAF in a non-voting position.
Richard Goldsmith is president of global distribution at Atomic Cartoons. He has held senior management positions at The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., Jim Henson and Univision. He is also an adjunct associate professor at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.
Dr. Marie Waterhouse is associate professor of clinical pediatrics at USC’s Keck School of Medicine where she trains post-grad and medical students as well as working as an attending physician at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
