Foundation raises record $550,000 Foundation raises record $550,000 (May 12, 2004)

The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation set a record May 1 by raising $550,000 at its annual auction. The funds will benefit the Menlo Park City School District's four schools and their 2,000 students.

Some 650 parents and local leaders turned out for the dinner and auction that sold out two weeks before the event. They bid on approximately 450 items, donated by local businesses and parents.

June Flora, president of the 22-year-old nonprofit organization, said the $550,000 grand total included $442,000 from the auction event and approximately $108,000 from six local corporate sponsors.

The combined proceeds are 49 percent above the $370,000 raised last year by the event. Proceeds from ticket sales cover most event expenses.

"The broad base of generosity and high level of participation from local businesses and parents is a testament to the value our community places on quality education for our children," said Ms. Flora.

For the first time, six local corporate sponsors contributed funds to the foundation, including a $50,000 check presented at the community event by the founders of the executive search firm Lonergan Richards.

The dinner and auction with a Hollywood theme capped an "Auction Week" of fundraising that included the sale of 68 classroom projects, created by students at Laurel, Encinal and Oak Knoll. The projects raised some $31,000, and a raffle, $28,000. All components of the auction -- ticket sales, silent auction, live auction and corporate advertising -- were higher than a year ago.

Every year the Menlo Park foundation raises money for a program called "Fund-a-Need." This year's Fund-a-Need will provide educational experiences in the fields of science, art and outdoor activities for students in grades 1-8. These activities will take place at the schools during the five fall parent-teacher conference days when students previously were dismissed at 11:30 a.m.

The auction's success ensures that the foundation can deliver its pledge to the Menlo Park school district to raise $45,000 to fund this new program slated for the fall, said Ms. Flora.

The single highest item -- a dinner party for 12 prepared by Marche restaurant owner and chef Howard Bulka -- went for $14,000. It was donated by Mr. Bulka and K and L Wines of Redwood City. Serving the dinner will be Superintendent Ken Ranella of the Menlo Park district and the four school principals: Nancy Hendry (Laurel), Stacy Marshall (Encinal), David Ackerman (Oak Knoll) and Mike Moore (Hillview).

Popular auction items included sporting tickets, private dinner parties, vacation getaways and special teacher-sponsored events for students.

This year the foundation reached out to the community by offering absentee bidding, credit card donations online, raffle ticket sales at local retail locations, and more opportunities for local businesses to participate and advertise to attendees.

The foundation acknowledged board members and auction organizers Lisa Schatz, Tina Bird, Michele Culhane, Nancy McMahon, Chris Rivera and Mary Summers, and thanked the hundreds of volunteers.

The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation (MPAEF), a public benefit and all-volunteer organization, in 2003 gave a $1.1 million grant -- about $500 per child -- to fund libraries, science, district technology and musical instruments at the district's four schools.

For more information about the foundation, go to www.mpaef.org.

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