AN ENCHANTED EVENING FOR LAGUNA BEACH SCHOOLS
School supporters who attended SchoolPower’s 25th Annual Dinner Dance were treated to “Une Soirée Enchantée” and were responsible for fundraising numbers that far surpassed expectations. The event grossed approximately $255,000, surprising many and putting SchoolPower in position to meet its LBUSD funding commitments and continue its efforts to bolster the $2.2 million SchoolPower Endowment Fund.
Event Chairs, Lynn Gregory and Mitchellene Channels, along with a multitude of dedicated volunteers, transformed the lovely Montage Laguna Beach into a Parisian night on the town with costumed can-can dancers (courtesy of the Festival), a strolling accordion player, a mime and art – wonderful art by many of Laguna’s premier artists. Auction Chair Kim Ressler, along with the amazing generosity of education-minded donors (see some of the auction items), made sure the silent auction tantalized bidders and the always-exciting live auction got the bidding paddles waving. When The Ken Garcia Band took the stage everyone in attendance was reminded that while it’s great to “visit” Paris, there’s no place like home.
SchoolPower president, Robin Rounaghi, made sure that the purpose of the night – Laguna Beach public schools -- was at center stage, also recognizing the contributions of outgoing Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraisse who received a roaring standing ovation. Rounaghi introduced Hearts of Montage Board member Chris Loidolt who presented a $15,000 check to SchoolPower.
School District leaders were also on hand to enjoy the festivities as well as to introduce this year’s Fund-A-Need: Student Response Systems. After showing a clever video explaining these amazing hand-held learning devices, Director of Technology, Victor Guthrie passed the egg-shaped devices out and attendees actually got to try them. It was a successful strategy. Thanks to a generous room full of bidders, a surprise $20,000 from philanthropic and future LBUSD family Chantal and Stephen J. Cloobeck and an additional $10,000 bid from Hearts of Montage, the kick-off for this initiative raised $50,000 in about ten minutes.
Departing School Board Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraisse was overwhelmed by the generous outpouring of support and funding for the Student Response Systems. According to Fraisse, “Our three year vision for fully implementing this educational innovation has been reduced by a full year based upon the dinner dance results. Within weeks we will be able to have as many as forty district classrooms fully equipped with Student Response Systems and to provide teacher training to maximize the effectiveness of this new learning tool. We are so thankful for the amazing support we receive year in and year out from SchoolPower. This is a special partnership in a very special community.”
Fund-A-Need 2010 - Student Response System
In addition to all of the wonderful entertainment, the Dinner Dance also provided the opportunity to kick off SchoolPower's Fund-A-Need. This year the district, with the approval of the SchoolPower Board of Directors, has chosen Student Response Systems as this year’s Fund-A-Need. Click here for details
You may make a contribution of any size via PayPal* below, or donate directly to the SchoolPower office. Paying via PayPal: Please note that you do not need a PayPal account to contribute with PayPal. PayPal accepts most major credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
Art Walk to showcase SchoolPower Dinner Dance art
Join your friends and neighbors at Laguna’s famous Art Walk on Thursday, February 4th from 6-9pm. Bid on selected artwork and help fund important programs for Laguna’s schools.
The JoAnne Artman Gallery and Townley Gallery will feature selected works donated to SchoolPower for the upcoming Dinner Dance Auction. Come to Art Walk and preview the pieces. Proxy bids will be accepted at each gallery. The JoAnne Artman Gallery has pledged 5% of their February net proceeds (with the mention of SchoolPower). Art Walk is a Laguna institution. When was the last time you went?
| Richard Birt John Eagle Jorge Fernandez Chris Gwaltney Amy Eidt Jackson |
Christine Kunkel Sherrie Larsen Louis Longi Ruth Mayer |
Laurel Meister Michael Obermeyer Hugo Rivera Gerard Stripling |
James Strombotne Shane Townley James Verbicky Steve Wang |
Last Year's SchoolPower Gala Raised Funds and Community Spirit for Schools
Saturday, February 28, Laguna Beach: The good times were definitely rolling at SchoolPower's Annual Dinner Dance. Laguna school supporters were treated to a memorable evening thanks to the hard work of event chairs, Gwen Grierson and Stacey Spurlock, dedicated volunteers and committed staff, who brought a little bit of Mardi Gras to the Montage. With great thanks to the efforts of auction chairs Nancy Glenn and Cindy Landsiedel and the amazingly generous support of donors, this year's event took in approximately $190,000. Adding to the event's success was the “gratitude and sense of community...” of those in attendance, observed Robin Rounaghi, SchoolPower Vice President.
SchoolPower President Jeff Spurlock welcomed guests and Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraisse spoke of the progress Laguna Beach schools have made in providing students access to state of the art technology as a result of the “Simply Integrated” Fund-a-Need. “A three year fundraising effort to significantly upgrade classroom technology in LBUSD was brought to a successful conclusion Saturday…Community members enthusiastically responded…to raise the remaining $25,000 of a $439,000 target goal!” proclaimed Dr. Fraisse.
Thanks to SchoolPower Endowment's Large Grant of $65,000 and SchoolPower's Fund-a-Need, the technology initiative was completed ahead of schedule, and has taken Laguna's schools from the absolute bottom in terms of technology and lifted them right to the top when compared with other schools in Orange County. This program alone raised $39,000 with the Hearts of Montage leading the way with an extremely generous $10,000 donation (for a total of $25,000 from the Montage for the night). Chris Loidolt, Board Member of the Hearts of Montage, said she was “humbled by the generosity of the families in our school district.” And when the always exciting live auction began, the commitment to Laguna's schools was evident by the generosity of several Laguna families, like David and Holly Wilson, who bid twice on Fund-a-Need, along with the live auction.
Breathtaking homes in Aspen and Cabo San Lucas, once in a lifetime events at an Angel game, a BMW or Mini-Cooper courtesy of longtime supporter Crevier BMW, and a luxurious resort vacation thanks to Bill and Cindy Shopoff – these were just a few of the items that got people going in the live auction. Then it was time for The Kooks to turn the dining room into a dance party. Every chair was empty and the dance floor was packed as guests enjoyed the live music. In year's past the evening ended there. This year, however, guests were treated to a casino night. Black jack, roulette and craps tempted guests to try their luck. The highest roller, Jerry and Helen Hayden, won a Ladies Rolex watch, courtesy of Fredric H. Rubel Jewelers. The real winners were, of course, Laguna's schoolchildren.
To learn more about the “Simply Integrated” Fund–a-Need, to make a donation or to get involved with SchoolPower, please click here or call the SchoolPower office, 949-494-6811.
SchoolPower is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the education of all children in the Laguna Beach School District.
Press Contacts:
Samantha Washer (714) 318-8040 / washer.home@gte.net
Robin Rounaghi (949 413-3301 / robinr1@cox.net
See past Dinner Dances:
2008 Dinner Dance 2007 Dinner Dance 2006 Dinner Dance