Dinner, dancing and the dedication to support Lake Orion students combined on Saturday as the Lake Orion Education Foundation hosted a successful Evening for Education II.
Over 125 individuals attended the event that was held at Canterbury Castle, and proceeds raised through ticket sales and a silent auction will go towards benefitting the Education Foundation’s mini-grant program.
National City Bank also sponsored the event, awarding a $15,000 check to the foundation, and initial numbers indicate that over $20,000 was raised for the foundation.
According to Lake Orion Education Foundation President Steve Appledorn, the foundation gives mini-grants to Orion schools twice yearly, and at date, have given nearly $50,000 to benefit Lake Orion students.
‘We take the money that we raise and try to positively impact as many students as we can,? Appledorn said.
Lake Orion Schools Superintendent Christine Lehman spoke at the event, thanking the Education Foundation for all their support.
‘It truly is a real pleasure to have you as part of our community,? Lehman told the group. ‘Everything you are doing is for the kids.?
She added that Lake Orion’s high quality of education is ‘enhanced and broadened by the contributions of our Education Foundation.?
The evening’s guest celebrity speaker, former NBA Pistons player and current WNBA Shock coach Bill Laimbeer, agreed on the importance of education.
‘The committment of education is one of the greatest things any parent, any one, can do,? Laimbeer said to the group.
He spoke to the group about his experiences in education as a student, a parent and a coach, highlighting that getting an education is the most important thing a person can do and that he frequently encourages his Shock players to pursue their degrees.
The Lake Orion Education Foundation, which just awarded a set of mini-grants in the fall, will award another group in the spring.