| As the District’s children wrap up a jam-packed year of learning, growing, and blossoming, the Mayor and I are proud to co-chair Fight For Children’s “Back to School with the Stars” on April 24. For many years, this annual event was the area’s most soughtafter social gathering to support D.C. education. The return of School Night will welcome 1,200 friends, supporters and education all-stars to celebrate Fight For Children’s genuine commitment to improving education. The Mayor and I are joining Fight For Children’s founder Joseph E. Robert, Jr., its president and CEO Michela English, and School Night 2008 chairwoman, Sheila C. Johnson, to celebrate best practices throughout Washington public, charter and independent schools. As the culmination of School Night, Fight For Children will award four $100,000 grants to hard-working District schools that exemplify best practices in leadership, professional development and teaching. We expect a glamorous crowd that night. Emcee David Gregory will introduce local youth performers, including DC Urban Nation H.I.P. H.O.P. Choir and the DC Youth Orchestra. After the awards ceremony, the soulstirring five-time Grammy Award winner John Legend will perform. Guests will then rock into the night to the sounds of a live band. School Night celebrates education all-stars of our community for their achievements in the |
“school subjects” in which they have
flourished. Look for culinary stars Todd and
Ellen Gray of Equinox, anchorwoman star
Barbara Harrison of NBC4, athletic and
civic star Tom McMillen, favorite dancestar Septime Webre of The Washington
Ballet, scientists, business icons, and other
community leaders.
School Night will unveil an avant-garde,
interactive alternative to a silent auction at a
typical event. Through a new partnership with
DonorsChoose.org, a revolutionary non-profit
charitable organization, School Night guests
will be able to “fund” dozens of classroom
projects on the spot. At computer kiosks, guests
will log on and use a gift certificate to support
a program they find most compelling.
Sponsored by Katherine Bradley and
the CityBridge Foundation, this remarkable partnership is exclusive to School Night. It
is the first time in the country that society
fundraising meets online philanthropy. I am
personally excited about the potential of this
ingenious program. It will be wonderful to see so many people making a direct, tangible
impact in classrooms across the city.
I am also thrilled to greet Fight For
Children’s future leaders – the Next Gen –
our proactive committee of brilliant young
professionals including Toni Leinhardt, Adrian
Washington, Jair Lynch, and Karl Racine.
Not all of them have children, so their active
momentum to make change in D.C. schools
is appreciated.
School Night 2008 will be an unforgettable
evening of fun, friends and philanthropy – and
I can bet you’ll even learn something! I look
forward to seeing you there. Michelle Fenty is the wife of Washington D.C.
Mayor Adrian Fenty. She is a practicing attorney
with the law firm Perkins Coie and is the mother
of twin boys. |
