Giving and Receiving for Education

Ferndale, you did it again. 

Last Thursday's Ferndale Education Foundation Dinner/Auction at Boogie Fever was just another example of our community gathering for a great time together and to raise a big pot of money.

We don't have the final numbers yet, but I wanted to share some photos and some stories about the event. 

Of course, what everyone wants to know is, who won the raffle grand prize? The lucky name drawn at the end of the night was Dennys Grady, a retired Ferndale Schools teacher. She's also a former FEF board member; how great for someone who has put in many hours running past fundraisers to win the big money.

The Ferndale Eagle was in attendance, as were all the School Board members and several Ferndale City Council members.

Party goers Paul Levendoski, parent of a child at Roosevelt, and Ann Heler, founder of FernCare Free Clinic, won the VIP seating in a drawing  Thursday morning.  They gathered their friends around them to enjoy the party in luxury.

There were teachers and staff, community leaders, student volunteers, parents, business owners. And who can forget FEF Board President and auctioneer Brad Parks in his leprechaun get-up?

Thanks to for hosting,  and for catering, for the centerpieces, and event sponsors Galloway and Collens, J&D Auto and Steven B's. And to Tim Burke and those kids in the jazz band: I could listen to you all night!

You can see more photos from the event here.

One of my favorite parts of the event was a great example of the FEF mission.

Kara Edwards teaches 1st and 2nd grade at Kennedy Elementary. She is also a resident of the district, a parent of three Ferndale students and a former FEF board member. She received an FEF mini-grant this school year for Android tablets that the students use to reinforce their math skills. It just so happens that my daughter is in her class.

On Tuesday, the kids in Kara's class created a painting of a flower using their thumbprints. Kara explained to the children about FEF and the money donated to buy the tablets for their class. The painting, she told them, was going to be donated to the FEF silent auction to raise money for other projects like the tablets. We took some snapshots of the kids painting and working with the tablets, and we included the photos in the silent auction package.

Thursday night the painting was there among so many great auction items. I am always amazed at the variety and quality of the items that our community donates. The painting had several bids, including a few phoned in to Kara from parents who weren't able to attend the party. Ultimately, Jill Lamphier, whose son is in Kara's class, was the winning bidder at $75. 

It's a constant circle; people give money, the schools receive the grants, the students give a painting, a bidder receives a keepsake and gives money. In the 2012-13 school year, students and teachers will receive again. (And I can't pass up this opportunity to remind you that you can always make a donation here.) 

This is what it's all about. As I nurse my sore feet after last night's celebration, I am basking in the lovely community we live in, from the generous donors to the children who benefit. We all are the lucky ones.

-Amy Butters, FEF board member

See previous blog posts about FEF: