Spring is the season for big formal galas and fundraisers across Hoover and the metro area. One of the residents’ favorite fundraisers is a night under the stars at Aldridge Gardens in their blue jean best--the Hoover City Schools Foundation’s annual and biggest fundraising event, Denim and Dinning.
Not only does this Hoover event support a great cause, but the casual night outdoors is the perfect time to mingle with residents and friends, enjoy great music, participate in live and silent auctions, and partake in great barbecue and beverages. Plus, the Culinary Students at Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) prepare the most delicious desserts.
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Students at Shades Mountain Elementary enjoy using items from the STEAM on the Go cart, which is made possible by fundraisers like Denim and Dining.
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Enjoy Hoover co-owner and writer Mitzi Eaker with Takeria Stephens, a member of the Hoover City Schools Foundation board of directors.
This year, Denim and Dining will take place on Friday, April 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Aldridge Gardens. Tickets will go on sale in early April, so be sure to get yours early at www.hoovercsf.org/events. Individual and corporate sponsorships are available with an option to purchase a table for eight.
The Hoover City Schools Foundation has given more than $700,000 in grants since it was founded in 1992. Recently appointed as executive director, Ann Marie Harvey says that the organization is the only one that represents all 17 schools in the school system. “The primary mission of the Hoover City Schools Foundation is to bridge the gap between increasingly limited public school funding and the growing needs of our students and teachers,” she says. “This happens in a variety of ways, most notably through teacher grants. Our teachers have amazing, innovative ideas, and the money given to the Foundation goes right back into the classroom.”
Examples of projects include the STEAM on the Go cart at Shades Mountain Elementary, which STEAM teacher Marjie Keeney keeps stocked with seasonal activities for the teachers to use in their classrooms throughout the week. Other grants have been given for reading resources, the GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math and Science) annual event, a greenhouse, robotics, The Hovercraft Project, sensory spaces for students and much more. A list of grants can be found at hoovercsf.org.
In addition to grants, the Foundation offers a Student Board for high school students. “Students volunteer their time for our efforts and those in our community,” Harvey says. “They gain interview experience, volunteer hours and a collaborative working environment. “
Dr. Kevin Maddox, the Hoover City School Superintendent, also emphasizes that schools benefit from and appreciate community and business involvement. “Businesses contribute financially to enhance what we already have through directly sponsoring sports and arts programs and contributing to the Hoover City Schools Foundation,” he says. “Those enhancements are designed to provide extras. Those extra opportunities for our students are what separates us from other districts. We could not make it without them.”
The Hoover City School Foundation ensures the “extras” are provided to Hoover students and teachers.
For more information on Hoover City Schools Foundation or how to get involved as a board member or a Friend of the Foundation, visit www.hoovercsf.org.