It’s not too late to purchase tickets for next Thursday’s USD 428 Education Foundation Dinner and Auction. The event starts with a social hour and sponsored bar at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Great Bend Events Center and continues with Taste of Great Bend dining stations at 6:30 and a live auction at 8 p.m.
The evening includes a live and silent auction and entertainment by the GBHS Jazz Band, and proceeds support inventive ideas in Great Bend classrooms, said Kelsey Sciacca, principal at Park Elementary School and president of the Ed Foundation’s board of directors.
The auction includes a variety of custom items made by students in art, woodworking and manufacturing classes, as well as experienced-based athletics packages such as cheer camps, classroom cupcake parties delivered by GBHS athletes, and even reserved seating at the 2024 GBHS graduation. Alan and Gail Moeder have donated a “rib dinner for 20” and Terry and MelEsa Stueder donated an RV ride to a Panther Football game next fall.
“We greatly appreciate the community support this event receives each year,” said USD 428 spokesman Andrea Bauer. “Susan Stambaugh is decorating for the event which is themed ‘BELIEVE: Dream it, Achieve it’ and it promises to be a fun night!”
The foundation is an independent, nonprofit community-based organization. Its efforts are focused on supporting teachers’ innovative ideas and funding for materials that are beyond the classroom budget. Last year, it provided 29 minigrants totaling $23,488.75 to teachers. For example, when Great Bend Middle School teacher Holly Tittel started a yearbook class, an Education Foundation minigrant was used to purchase cameras for students to use at sporting events and activities. Jefferson Elementary School teacher Janae Donham used a minigrant to purchase a Frog Games learning set that allows students to work independently, with a partner or as a group to master a subject.
At Thursday’s event, Riley Elementary School teacher Leah Yancey will show off the Dot and Dash Coding Robots purchased with her minigrant. They are interactive tools for teaching kids how to code. Yancey also received a minigrant to purchase “Step into Reading” material to build students’ reading comprehension skills.
Single tickets to the dinner and auction are $55. Ticket and sponsorship information can be found on the USD 428 Education Foundation’s Facebook page. Tickets can also be purchased online here, or by calling the USD 428 District Education Center, 620-793-1500.
