Canyon Creek Elementary’s marimba band kicked off yesterday’s “Light a Fire for Learning” Northshore School Foundation luncheon at the Lynnwood Convention Center.

Mike Sharadin, an education advocate who has been involved as co-chair of the Citizens for Northshore Schools, Sunrise PTA president and board member of the Northshore Schools Foundation, received the Torchbearer Award.

The Foundation Award went to Cornerstone General Contractors, a longstanding supporter of the foundation.

The nonprofit, volunteer-run foundation’s mission is to raise funds and create partnerships to support academic excellence and success for all students in the district.

Dr. Bonnie J. Dunbar, retired NASA astronaut and Washington state native, was the keynote speaker.

The goal of the luncheon was to raise more than $100,000 that will further the foundation’s continued funding initiatives, which include supporting teacher excellence; STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education; support for advanced and disadvantaged learners; fitness, health, music and enhancement; and literacy support in all 31 Northshore schools.