Schools Foundation raises $140,000-plus
November 24, 2008 · Updated 4:54 PM
By Mary L. Grady
The Mercer Island Schools Foundation raised $140,000 and counting, from a fund-raising breakfast held March 22 at Mercer Island High School.
The breakfast, attended by 400 community members and business people, was focused on developing a partnership between the business community and the schools.
Ten percent of the money will be donated to Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle, where many of the students are homeless and all but a handful are eligible for free lunch.
Principal Norma Zavala of Bailey Gatzert thanked contributors and explained that funds from the event last year were used to help students with literacy skills.
The theme of the breakfast, ``Good schools are good business,'' was to encourage businesses to invest in schools.
Major corporate sponsors at the event included The Boeing Co., Silver Creek Capital Management and Starbucks Coffee.
Since the foundation began in 1981, the all-volunteer members of the non-profit have raised $5.5 million for Mercer Island schools.
The foundation presented a special award, Champion of Public Schools, to Ted Garcia and Jane Hoerig for their longtime support of the foundation and education.
The funds are used for everything from curriculum to art projects to technology and teacher training at Mercer Island public schools.
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