The Royse City ISD Education Foundation Partnership Dinner was aglow with decorative lights and the excited faces of the guests as the Royse City High Culinary students began displaying their delectable entries for the Dessert Dash.

The annual dinner and student art auction was held on Nov. 7 to kick off the yearly fundraising drive for the Foundation and to honor our lead gift donors, who are individuals and businesses who have given $1,000 or more to the annual campaign.

Student artists, inspired by their art teachers, create pieces for the event and Clay Potter, an auctioneer from Farmersville, provided bidding entertainment and excitement. The auction would prove to be the best yet, adding online bidding and lots of excitement to the bidding process. "The student art pieces are so colorful and fun, and with 60 percent of the bid going back to the art classroom, this is a great way for these programs to add much needed dollars to their budgets," Executive Director for the foundation Jo Nell Mellody said.

RCHS Culinary Arts students and their teacher Chef Cindy Clark were surprised with a $2,000 gift from the Craig Bowers Foundation to purchase a much-needed trailer to transport food and equipment to their competitions and catering events. The Foundation dinner also recognized and honored our 2013 teacher grant winners, having just awarded $51,290 in innovative grants on Oct. 24.

The annual campaign has raised $44,600 to date, along with the employee payroll deduction campaign of $32,226, plus the $8,495 from the art auction makes a grand total of $85,315, over 85 percent of our $100,000 goal!

The money raised goes back to our students and staff in innovative classroom grants, and student and staff recognition with our Top Dog Spectacular. The Foundation thanks our donors and all participants who were a part of this great event!

Story and photos courtesy of Jo Nell Mellody, Royse City ISD, Executive Director Education Foundation
and Community Relations for Royse City ISD