Over $20,000 was raised to benefit Ceres students when approximately 200 community members and education supporters gathered for the 11th annual “Helping Students Today & Tomorrow” dinner and live auction.
The event was held Friday evening, Oct. 13 at the Ceres Community Center and benefited the nonprofit CUSD Foundation.
The money, which was raised through dinner ticket sales, event sponsorships, and auction proceeds, will go toward high school scholarships and teacher mini-grants to provide unique learning opportunities for K-12 students.
The fundraiser is allowed the honoring of individuals and organizations going above and beyond to support Ceres students and schools. Ceres Police Chief Rick Collins was recognized as the 2023 “Civic Friend of Education” for his support of the agriculture programs at both Ceres and Central Valley high schools.
Jorge Sebastian and Bob and Shawna Nunes were honored as “Friends of Education” for their generous giving to CUSD secondary schools.
Ed and Annette Morgan and Serena Saldivar were named the K-6 and 7-8 “Volunteers of the Year”, respectively.
The Lucas’ Parent Teacher Club received the award for 2023 “Parent Organization of the Year.”
The CUSD Foundation was 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, to make post-secondary education financially possible for graduates and to supplement classroom resources for current students. Since its inception in 2012, the annual fundraiser has raised more than $224,247.
Thank you cards and notes from prior scholarship recipients were on display during the event. One such card penned by 2023 Ceres High graduate Ayla Weldon, who plans to major in genetics and geonomics at UC Davis, read: “This is the stepping stone to my dream career in genetic research and I hope to one day give back to my community. I am so excited to begin this new chapter in my life and am so grateful that I have this opportunity. I thank each and every one of you for your support and belief in my potential!”
For more information or to donate to the CUSD Foundation, contact Julie Lynn Martin-Borba at jumartin@ceres.k12.ca.us.
