15 years of soaring with the CEF

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Camas Educational Foundation has given $1 million to local schools.

Organizers of this year’s annual dinner and auction are planning to celebrate that milestone, as well as raise $100,000 that night.

“This year’s auction is a celebration of the journey CEF has made over the past 15 years and where we are headed. We will be highlighting those moments and experiences that have led to the place we are today,” said Mandy Huth, CEF president. “Lao Tzu said, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.’ We have come so far, step by step, and continue to travel, together, on our journey.”

The auction and dinner theme is “Soaring With CEF,” and will be held at the Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver on Saturday, Nov. 17. Tickets are $65 each, and this year’s annual appeal is a literacy campaign, “Everyone is a Reader.” The goal is to raise $1,500 for each of the 10 Camas schools, for a total of $15,000.

Catering will be done by local restaurant K’Syrah. Dessert will be provided by Simply Sweets by Jen.

“The auction and dinner have continued to flex and change each year as our community’s needs have changed,” Huth said. “Based on our supporters’ feedback, we have moved back to a sit down dinner, more of a ‘date night’ mentality. The auction will feature a four course dinner.”

Childcare will not be provided this year, as it was not utilized much in the past.

“However, many things remain the same based on popularity: silent and live auctions, Journey of a Lifetime raffle, Gift Card City, Wine Cellar and a Golden Ticket raffle,” Huth said. “Of interest is that our live auction will have many journeys to offer: Cancun, Antigua, St. Lucia, South Africa, an airplane ride to the San Juans, a sailing journey, and many more interesting adventures.”

Journey of a Lifetime raffle tickets are also available for everyone, whether or not they attend the auction. There will be a single winner drawn, who will choose a trip to either Sydney, Australia or Paris (with a Le Cordon Bleu experience). Either trip includes airfare for two, accommodations and breakfast. Both are valued at over $13,000. CEF is selling 1,000 tickets at $25 each. Anyone interested may e-mail cefcamas@gmail.com.

“Camas Educational Foundation was founded on the idea that a motivated community and a strong partnership with the schools, raising money for our students, could facilitate academic enrichment for each and every child in our school district,” Huth said. “The auction is a great opportunity to provide support to this cause, as well as a fun social event with the people in their neighborhoods. Each dollar we raise impacts the 6,200 students in Camas, the consequences of which reach each person living in the community. We hope our community will join us in celebrating the Camas locality and the students that reside here.”