Education Foundation Auction Set For March 19

With just a week to go, members of the Educational Foundation of Dexter (EFD) are gearing up for their annual auction March 19.

This year's auction and strolling supper will take place at the Ann Arbor Country Club, 4699 E. Loch Alpine Dr.

"This is our fundraiser for the year," EFD President Linda Brewer said. "We've been fortunate to retain long-term corporate sponsors and local businesses who recognize the important work that the EFD does."

In the past, the event has attracted as many as 225 attendees and has garnered $50,000, which the foundation has used toward teacher grants that are distributed in a fall and spring cycle.

"Teachers come up with innovative or creative programs in the classroom, and they can apply for a grant through the foundation," Brewer said. "Grants have gone toward $50 software purchases to more expensive requests, like bringing in members of the Ann Arbor Orchestra to perform."

Brewer said a new challenge has been funding technology requests.

"We recently gave a grant for iPads to help students who have a hard time with reading and can use some of the iPad applications to assist them," she said. "Our criteria for funding innovative projects is not really narrow, so we encourage teachers to apply."

The fundraiser's live auction will include vacation getaways in Michigan and New York, a chocolate labradoodle puppy and a hot air balloon ride for two, and there are myriad silent auction prizes donated by local businesses, said Kristi Bishop, vice president and auction co-chairwoman.

"We have sports paraphernalia from the Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons and the University of Michigan," she said.

also donated two fire pits, and  donated two dinners a month for a year.  donated two months of Tae Kwon Do lessons, and the Friends of the donated several new books for the auction as well.

"We have been so fortunate that the community has recognized the importance of our foundation and has helped us secure the funds necessary to provide teachers with the tools that they need to do the jobs that they do," Bishop said.

Brewer said the events kick off at 6 p.m. March 19 with a strolling supper of hors d'oeuvres and the silent auction, followed by the live auction at 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost $75 each and may be purchased online via PayPal at efdexter.org; click on the EFD 2011 auction page for more information.

"The auction is a lot of fun," Bishop said. "It's not just a night to raise money. It's a chance to enjoy being with friends and family and maybe find out some things about local businesses that you might not have known before."

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