Nearly 170 community members and education supporters gathered at the Ceres Community Center on Friday, Oct. 2, to fundraise for the nonprofit CUSD Foundation.
The 14th annual “Helping Students Today & Tomorrow” dinner and auction generated over $40,000 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 this year’s event and auctioneer Travis Johnson led lively bidding on items contributed by a long list of donors, including Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, Home Depot of Ceres, Walmart of Ceres and 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 $380,000 in mini-grants to over 900 teachers for enrichment programs and activities that have impacted more than 21,000 students.
Since 2014 when the foundation’s scholarship program began, over $257,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 312 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.
The Foundation extended its gratitude to the Ceres Lions Club for volunteering during the fundraiser, the City of Ceres for use of the event venue, and the many Ceres schools and staff who contributed to the fundraiser’s success.
For more information or to donate to the CUSD Foundation, contact Julie Lynn Martin-Borba at jumartin@ceres.k12.ca.us.
