Over 250 people attended the 9th Annual Mardi Gras Dinner & Auction on March 10, 2018, in support of Communities In Schools of Washington, whose work surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life through 14 affiliates across Washington state.
The dinner and auction was hosted by Jaime Greene, CIS of Renton Executive Director and Tana Peterson, CIS of Renton Board Chair at the Renton Pavilion Event Center. The goal of raising $250,000 was achieved, making it the most successful fundraising event in the history of the organization.
Revenue from the event will support the growth and impact of the organization’s statewide network. The network affiliates employ a research-based model of site coordination which places a well-trained individual in partner schools to connect students at risk of school failure with community partners and resources that address both academic and nonacademic needs. During the 2016-17 school year, over 73,000 students benefited from school-wide services and an additional 4,971 received case management support from a site coordinator. Of these students served, 99% stayed in school and 93% of secondary students receiving case management support were promoted to the next grade or graduated.
Kaitlin Thomas, Lead Student Outreach Coordinator for CIS of Federal Way presented the student story, highlighting the barriers faced and overcome by a student on track to graduate this spring with the hopes of attending Western Washington University. Supported since 4th grade, this featured student is a example of the impact the work of CIS has on students and their families throughout the state.
Presenting sponsor, Unify Consulting, and other sponsors including Denali Advanced Integration, EMC2, and Cisco were in attendance as well as many others.