Solana Beach Ball raises funds for school enrichment programs

By Karen Billing

The Solana Beach Ball is coming up on April 28, at 5 p.m., to help support enrichment programs at Skyline and Solana Vista schools. The two Solana Beach schools are hosting the event in partnership with the Solana Beach Foundation for Learning at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club.

“The event brings together parents from both schools for a single cause…to enrich the education of all students at each school,” said event co-chair Scott Billington.

One of the foundation’s biggest fundraisers of the year, it has sold out every year and Billington would be surprised if it didn’t sell out again this year. Tickets are still available at

www.solanabeachball.org

.

The Solana Beach Foundation for Learning helps bridge funding gaps in the educational system and provides the best learning opportunities for the children in the community.

Money raised will go toward supporting art, technology science and PE programs in the schools, paying for everything from the teacher salaries to art supplies.

Billington knows how fortunate SBSD children are to have the opportunity to have these programs because in other schools, when money gets tight, those programs are often the first to be cut. Without the foundation’s support, “It’s definitely possible these programs wouldn’t be around,” Billington said.

At the Saturday night event, participants can enjoy dinner, cocktails and dancing, as well as three different auctions. There will be a live and silent auction, as well as the very popular children’s art auction. Every class at both schools creates an art project to be auctioned off; pieces that are “very cool” like an Eiffel Tower made of spray-painted found objects to the “very endearing” pieces such as portraits of ocean creatures.

One Solana Vista second grade class decided to raise awareness about owls with their project and built a natural owl habitat. It looks like a piece of art, but is also functional. Other functional art projects include a mosaic bench, a shell-lined mirror, a quilt made by kindergartners and a recipe book.

Pre-bidding has already begun on children’s art. Solana Vista’s preview was held on April 5 and Skyline’s art preview will be held during an open house on April 19 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the activity center.

This year’s live and silent auction items are pretty amazing due to generous donations by parents and local businesses. There are getaways to Mexico, Napa, Mammoth, Lake Tahoe, Colorado, New Hampshire and even the Czech Republic. Other auction items include golf and pampering packages at the Inn at Torrey Pines and a gourmet meal at Pamplemousse Grille, as well helicopter rides and Red Sox VIP tickets.

“The event brings together the schools, parents and the local business community and there’s a benefit in it for everybody,” Billington said. “A tremendous amount of volunteer man hours went into this. But afterward, it’s such a gratifying event because you can really see the direct results.”

To reserve your ticket or make a donation without attending, visit

www.solanabeachball.org

.