The Northshore Schools Foundation hosted more than 300 people and raised $120,000 during its 10th annual luncheon on March 28 at the Lynnwood Convention Center. The event featured Kenmore student speakers who have benefited from the Foundation’s support and grants.

Keynote speaker, and Seattle Foundation President, Norman Rice emphasized the value of community involvement in education and industry participation in K-12 education. He said it is important to expose students to the careers of the future.

But it was the students’ testimonials that made the most impact.

“We were thrilled to feature some of the area’s most respected leaders, and in the end, it’s always the students who steal the show,” said Executive Director of the Northshore Schools Foundation Carmin Dalziel.

Ingmlemoor High School junior Spencer Lane was the featured student speaker for the event.

“One year ago I didn’t know what STEM was and I had no idea that I had been the recipient of any of the grants from the Northshore Schools Foundation,” said Lane. “Today I am inspired to pursue a career in Sustainable Engineering and Design, and grateful for the nine different grants that have supported me in my education.”

Funds collected at the event go toward Northshore Schools Foundation initiatives and programs. Many of those programs prepare students for college of a chosen career path.

Northshore Junior High students Anthony Ramos, Cristian Flores-Torres and Bainbridge Garcia shared how the Hang-Time homework support program helped them increase their grades and inspired them to go to college.

“If I didn’t have Hang -Time, I would probably be failing school and could not achieve my dream of being a Marine,” said Flores-Torres.

Hang-Time is a Community Schools program funded through a partnership between several local and regional partners, including the Northshore Schools Foundation, the Northshore YMCA, the school district and the Seattle Foundation.

Northshore School District Superintendent Larry Francois, Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler, Foundation President Sherry Krainick and Cascadia Community College President Dr. Eric Murray all spoke about the importance of increased commitment from community members in support of local education.

The event also featured students from Northshore Junior High’s award-winning Symphonic Band, Kenmore Elementary School’s drumming group and Wellington Elementary School’s Helping Hands service program. Each program received Northshore Schools Foundation grants in 2012-13.

“We wanted to highlight how these programs help grow confidence and provide relevant learning opportunities for students,” said Dalziel. “The student speakers really hit home how the right programs can be the motivating factor between just graduating, and graduating ready to be successful. Everything from a 6th grade student singing out a cappella to a room full of adults, to three young men sharing just a piece of their educational journey all builds on success. These students are the ones who do the hard work but I believe it’s our responsibility to give them the opportunity.”

The Foundation is sponsored by more than 65 local and regional companies. Microsoft, McKinstry, Boeing and the Friends of the Foundation provided $39,000 in challenge match funds for people making gifts of more than $200 at the event.

Title sponsors for the event were Cornerstone General Contractors and Evergreen Medical Supply. Molbaks and the Windermere Foundation were honored as premiere sponsors. Major sponsors included Northwest Totem Cellars, Puget Sound Energy Foundation, BioLife Solutions and Brent Planning Solutions.

Other sponsors for the event included: Banner Bank, Statefarm-Barry Glenn, Barrage Cellars, BECU, Beresford Company, Dykeman Architects, Elevation Cellars, Fairwinds-Brittany Park, Kiwanis of Northshore, Picolla Cellars, Shelly Oberman Photography, Sparkman, Starline Transportation, Ontra Marketing, VoiceFlix, QBSI, Bonefish, Obelisco Estates, Body Fat Testing, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union, Alexa’s Café, La Petit Terrior, Pen Thai, Patterson Cellars, Project V Distillery, School Employees Credit Union, Studio Meng Strazaara Architects, Symmetry Electronics, Coughlin Porter Lundeen, Educational Data Services, Evergreen Karate, Walgreens, Rainer Investment Management, Country Village, Alaska Airlines, Orange Credit Union, Wellington Chocolates, Italianissimo Ristorante, law firm of Johns Monroe Mitsunaga Kolouskova, Knight Visions Gallery, NAC Architects, NSEA, New Ventures Group, Rely Local, Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland, Russell’s, Snapdoodle Toys, Travis Fitzmaurice & Associates, Susan Fyall Property Management, Lynnwood Convention Center and Bothellblog.com.

Carmin Dalziel contributed to this report.