Ladies' Night Out at Melt to Raise Money for Southern Lehigh School District Educational Programs

This Wednesday (March 23), it may be hard to find parking at the Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley.  That’s because the Southern Lehigh Education Foundation’s annual Ladies’ Night Out will take over to raise money for the foundation’s grant program.

This is the fifth year the all-volunteer foundation has hosted its Ladies’ Night Out event, and the fifth year that Melt has hosted it. “Melt has been our partner from the beginning,” said Diana Millman, district liaison to the foundation (also known as SLEF). The foundation has several events throughout the year, including a golf tournament, the bi/triathlon and a teachers rock concert.

Ladies’ Night Out will include a light dinner, entertainment and even a “SLEF-tini,” a take on a candy apple martini in honor of the event. Members say the event is considered one of the more popular annual events. “We love to do events that bring members of the community together,” said SLEF president Jennifer Johnson. “We really try and encourage members of the community to attend and support our programs.”

Raising money for the foundation’s grant program is at the heart of what the events are all about. “Our mission is to raise additional funds to bring in special programs that are not funded by taxpayer dollars,” said Johnson. Programs such as the DeSales Shakespeare Workshop held at the middle school in December and the renovation of the Liberty Bell Elementary School Art Courtyard may be beyond the district’s annual budget, but the foundation feels these programs are important. “We really feel it enhances our kids' educational experience,” said Millman.

Mini-grants are awarded to teachers who apply to the Education Foundation. With the Southern Lehigh School District  for the upcoming school year, the money can provide a lifeline to teachers. “While we can’t directly save a program, we can indirectly help by giving money to principals and teachers to help shore up their technology,” said Johnson.

The events bring in profits that range from $500 to $2,000 per event, and sometimes much more. “We’re expecting to sell out [for Ladies Night Out], which could bring in as much as $3,500,” said Millman.

The foundation is adding a film screening to the lineup of upcoming events. “We’re really excited to announce that we’ll be hosting a showing of ‘Race to Nowhere’ at the on April 10,” said Johnson. The film, which discusses the extreme pressures students face in the classroom, will be shown at 7pm. Tickets will be $10 and can be purchased in advance on the "Race to Nowhere" website.

In the end, it’s all about what the funds raised can do for Southern Lehigh School District students. “To be able to continue to provide these types of educational experiences during tough times is priceless,” said Johnson.