— from the Orcas Island Education Foundation —
Orcas Island Education Foundation — now 30 years old!
The Orcas Island Education Foundation turns 30 this year! We are so excited to announce two big events to celebrate our “Anniversary month.”
First, will be a community “Cupcake Social” on May 31st. Come to the Stage-on-the-Green starting at 11 a.m. for some lemonade and an anniversary cupcake, lovingly prepared by the OIEF Board. All are invited to this FREE event. It’s our very small way of saying “thank you” for 30 years of support of OIEF and our schools.
Then on June 28th, we will be holding our annual “Food for Thought” event. This year we will be celebrating 30 years of giving to the Orcas Island School district. The dinner and live auction will be held at Random Howse in Eastsound. As the “gift” for a 30th anniversary is a pearl – the dinner will have a seafood theme. Acclaimed local chef Madden Surbaugh will prepare a salmon main course from Troller Point Fisheries. Don’t be surprised to see some locally sourced oysters and shrimp as well. And for your dessert lovers, Dante Miller from Roses will be making something sweet and delicious to finish off the meal.
Board members from the last 30 years have been invited – and we hope you will come too. This is the Education Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year. What we raise will go to support programming and classrooms for the 2014-2015 school year. Tickets are $100. You can buy them in person at the Chamber of Commerce and online at our newly re-designed website: oief.org.
Since it began, OIEF has been dedicated to making our Orcas Island public schools the best they can be. This year alone OIEF has: funded the 6th Grade trip to the Olympic National park, sent an award-winning team to the Math Olympiad, paid for a STEM guitar-making class in the High School, funded the expansion of “Farm to Classroom” into the Middle School, gave support for the High School Strings group to give an onstage performance at Disneyland, funded an art exploratory in the Middle school, helped pay for the elementary school counselor – just to mention a few things we’ve done in 2013-14.
So, whether it’s the May 31st Cupcake Social, or our fundraiser on June 28th, or just checking out the new website – we hope you will connect with OIEF. And from 30 years of Board members, school staff, and our students – THANK YOU for all of your support!
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
It is because of the amazing donors to OIEF that the K-6 Farm to Classroom has existed for the past 5 years and now expanded to grades 7 and 8. Farm to Cafeteria is truly grateful for their support and enthusiasm for the program. This year’s Food for Thought Benefit is going to be the best ever – great food, student talent, local food, very unique auction items and lots of celebrating!! Seating is limited at Random Howse, so purchase tickets early!