The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) raised a record-breaking $278,000-plus at its recent Hope Awards event that celebrates creativity and recognizes individuals and programs that impact students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
The funds raised came from support from the community, including matching funds from the Kirby Jones Foundation and a $10,000 lead gift from the John C. Mithun Foundation.
More than $100,000 will support Teacher Grants and Student Grants that provide essential resources for creative, project-based learning, classroom innovation, and student-led initiatives.
The event was emceed by Santa Barbara Junior High School theater teacher Rich Lashua and featured performances from Brasscals and the Goleta Valley Junior High School Theatre Group, which performed selections from their recent production of “SpongeBob the Musical.”…