Nearly 150 community members and education supporters gathered at the Ceres Community Center on Friday, Oct. 3, to fundraise for the nonprofit CUSD Foundation.

The 13th annual “Helping Students Today & Tomorrow” dinner and auction generated over $30,000 through ticket sales, event sponsorships, and live and silent auctions – the highest proceeds of any year since the event’s inception in 2012.

Retired CUSD music teacher Ric Campero emceed the event and auctioneer Travis Johnson led lively bidding on items contributed by a long list of donors, including major contributions from Black Oak Casino & Resort, Home Depot of Ceres, Walmart of Ceres and many others.

The CUSD Foundation funds scholarships for graduating Ceres seniors and teacher mini-grants that provide unique learning opportunities for the Ceres Unified School District’s TK-12 students. Since 2004, the foundation has awarded $360,000 in mini-grants to 875 teachers for enrichment programs and activities that have impacted more than 19,000 students.

Since 2014 when the foundation’s scholarship program began over $210,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 267 CUSD graduates – many of whom have returned to Ceres as teachers and other professionals to make a difference in their community.

The CUSD Foundation represents the combined vision of founding Ceres Unified School District Superintendent Dr. M. Robert Adkison, community member Dave McConnell, and former superintendent Dr. Walt L. Hanline, who sought to make post-secondary education financially possible for CUSD graduates and to supplement classroom resources for current students.

For more information or to donate to the CUSD Foundation, contact Julie Lynn Martin-Borba at jumartin@ceres.k12.ca.us.