By Staff Writer: Jada Boprie

Trips to New York City, Chicago, Montreal, London, and Mexico are only a few of the experiences being auctioned by the Howell Education Foundation at their Gala on Saturday, Feb. 22. The event is open to the public.

The gala will be filled with big-ticket items to be sold through either live auctions or silent auctions. Some of the other items include:

         Pistons tickets

         Red Wings tickets

         Wine tasting

         Kitchen remodel

         Jewelry

         Fishing Trip

While there are many expensive items to be auctioned, and surely a lot of competition, the real reason for the Gala is to celebrate the children the foundation helps and everything they have accomplished. This idea resonates in the theme for the evening, “It’s all about the kids.”

The event will be held at Crystal Gardens, located at 5768 E Grand River. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with student presentations, including performances by Howell choirs and the high school jazz band. A gallery of student artwork will be displayed.

A delicious dinner will commence at 7 p.m. with the auction shortly after. The dress code for the event is business casual. Tickets are $80 per person and can only be bought online at the Howell Education Foundation’s official website.

Proceeds from the evening will go directly to Howell Public Schools for classrooms and scholarships which benefit the students. Since being founded in 2003, the Howell Education Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to Howell schools. In the past, this money has been used for classroom technology such as cameras and iPads; gym equipment; field trip;, and various educational programs. Teachers apply for grants each school year and almost all of them are approved.

The dedicated group of people who make up the Howell Education Foundation consists of administrators and teachers and represent all of the schools in the district, even the Howell High School alumni. Mrs. Judy Hanner, a retired HPS teacher and the representative for the alumni group, is looking forward to the Gala. It is the first big event the foundation has ever organized besides an annual golf outing in June, and she anticipates the success of the celebration.

“We want people to be aware of the schools and all that goes on here,” Mrs. Hanner says.

For more information, please go to http://www.howelleducationfoundation.com/.