Correia Junior High is very lucky. When parent-volunteers from the school needed help and donations for an upcoming fund-raising event, the community gave its full support with generous donations.
The prizes will be featured at the “Correia Crystal Celebration,” a dinner, dance and auction on March 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Money raised at the event will benefit improved technology, including computer purchases, at the school.
Niki Goodwin, head coordinator of the celebration and parent-volunteer with the Correia Association, sent out between 200 and 300 letters to businesses near and far, including Disneyland and McDonald’s corporate headquarters asking for donations. Her efforts were rewarded with generous gifts.
A crystal piece crafted by glass artist Steven Correia will serve as the auction’s centerpiece, and is the inspiration for the event’s theme. In his work, Correia utilizes optical crystal science allowing glass surfaces to capture 99.2 percent of light.
Correia himself is no stranger to the school, as his name suggests. In fact, the graduate has supported and enhanced visual and performing arts over the years, leading his alma mater to rename itself after him in 1984.
According to Kris Spathas, president of Correia Association, other donations include gift certificates from In-N-Out Burger and fitness centers and family passes from SeaWorld. Other items donated include two certificates for one week at surf camps worth $700 and 20 oil pastel drawings of seascapes drawn by the school’s art classes.
“Aside from monetary reasons, it takes a circle of support for kids to be successful,” Spathas said. “That circle includes families, schools and community, so it’s just wonderful and necessary for the community to donate to our fund-raiser.”
Proceeds from the event will be used to further incorporate technology into curriculum.
“Technology is crossing all the areas of the curriculum because it’s a tool used in every area of learning. It’s not like a separate subject,” Spathas said. “That’s what so exciting about Correia. The teachers are embracing it, the kids are completely engaged and it’s just adding a great energy at the school for learning.”
According to Goodwin, the biggest challenge has been soliciting food donations, as catering the event will be very expensive. However, she said she feels confident the event will be successful.
“I’m real enthusiastic about it and I feel very honored to be part of it,” Goodwin said. “I hope the money raised is substantial enough to give back to the school.”
Tickets are $25 and are available at www.correiamiddle.com. For more information, contact Goodwin at (619) 788-8418 or [email protected].
To make a tax-deductible donation of food, drinks or cash, e-mail [email protected].