Eastview Community Foundation's Art Madness Fundraiser Continues to Grow

Organizers of the fourth Eastview Community Foundation fundraiser expect even more people to attend this year's event than last year.

The silent art auction, held each year in the barn at the Spirit of Brandjten Farm in Lakeville, has become the foundation's signature event and greatest fundraising opportunity, foundation grant chairwoman Sue Spaniol said.

"It's almost branded us," Spaniol said; there's "lots of excitement in the community" about it.

This year's fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday night, when between 200 and 250 attendees—parents, teachers and administrators of students at and its nine feeder schools, as well as artists—will bid on more than 100 pieces of donated art.

The art is donated from people's home collections, from students in art classes, local and artists and even Eastview alumni, Spaniol said.

Proceeds from this event and the foundation's other fundraising efforts fund scholarships for graduating Eastview students and grants for teacher and student projects in the Eastview school community.

"Every dollar goes back," Spaniol said. While people might not have as much money as they did prior to the economic downturn, the 13 foundation board members—parents, a teacher, administrative representative and an alumna—have worked hard doing outreach throughout the community, she said.

Last year, the foundation awarded nine grants worth $20,000, and 85 scholarships to 2011 Eastview graduates worth $45,000.

One grant, for $5,000, went to to implement a bullying prevention program that involves the entire school, Spaniol said. Another $2,655 grant went to a middle school math teacher for remotes that interface with a classroom SMART board to make math work more interactive.

Since the foundation began in 2000, it has awarded $125,000 in grants and $415,000 in scholarships—all important in a time when schools are experiencing funding cuts, Spaniol said.

The foundation also gets donations from businesses, and has even been remembered in wills, she said. It holds a summer garden party for donors, and is considering having a spring bowling tournament to continue growing, Spaniol said.

"We’re just so thankful for every dollar that we do get," Spaniol said.

Come back to Apple Valley Patch for photos from this year's Art Madness event.