BCISD EducationFoundation
The Bay City ISD Education Foundation is gearing up for its biggest fundraiser of 2022 in hopes of fulfilling more teacher grant requests and inspiring students to reach for the stars.
This year, the “Vans & James Summer Slam” event fundraiser will be from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 22 at the Bay City Civic Center.
It features an 80’s Music Theme dance with live music by the Spazmatics.
Sponsorships are available ranging from $5,000 as a headliner sponsor to $50 for a single ticket.
All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
There will be three big live auction packages the night of the event, along with a “Wine and Whiskey Pull.”
“Tickets for the ‘Wine & Whiskey Pull’ will be $50 each and will feature premium bottles sprinkled throughout such as Veuve Clicquot Champagne, Knob Creek’s Small Batch 9-year Bourbon, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrell Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Desert Door Tequila distilled in Driftwood, Texas and Cristal Brut Champagne to name a few,” said Helen McAda, foundation board member.
“The foundation’s mission is to provide opportunities for excellence in education, promote innovation in teaching, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students.”
Each year, the foundation fulfills grant requests from innovative teachers who think outside the box, are willing to complete the application process, and present the lesson plan and objectives.
The foundation was started in 2019 and has already fulfilled over $100,000 in teacher grant requests and assisted qualified students with the Early College High School program.
That program allows students to blend high school and college coursework with the opportunity to earn up to two years of college credit while earning a high school diploma.
“The foundation is instrumental, in organizing school supply collection, of much-needed items, and providing them to the teachers who are regularly using personal funds, to assist students with supplies in class,” McAda added.
“In addition, this year the foundation has also begun organizing the “Blackcat Threads & More” closet, which will provide another source for educators to send students in need of school apparel and basic necessities.”
The foundation is asking anyone with overstuffed closets of gently used clothing and winter jackets or coats to contact any board member who will pick up items, so they can be re-distributed and loved by a student in need.
With a spike in the retirement of many great educators, budget cuts, and an increase in students in need, the idea to create an education foundation became a reality for Elizabeth Hewitt.
“Hewitt is not only a major founder, but she is also the current foundation president,” she said.
“She, along with other concerned citizens and educators knew this would be a program our community would get behind and support.”
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that has raised funds through its founding members, Bay City High School Alumni, memorial brick sales of $100 and $200 each that are laid at the home entrance of the new football stadium and with t-shirt & polo shirt sales.
Last year the foundation teamed up with the Matagorda Regional Medical Center Foundation to combine efforts due to most events being canceled the year before due to COVID.
For more details, to be a sponsor, or to buy a ticket go to their website at bcisdeducationfoundation.com/programs or call Elizabeth Hewitt at 832-425-7864.