Main Event XXVI

A sultry spring evening in the French Quarter complete with the sweet sounds of jazz delighted hundreds of guests for Main Event XXVI – A Night in the Big Easy – on Saturday evening, May 3.

“The Main Event was really great this year,” says Dave Wagman, president of PEF. “We had 600 terrific people who attended and contributed to achieving our $1.5 million pledge to the District.”

Marilyn Prindle and Karen Olds chaired the event for the second year in a row, working closely with Deidre Manns, outgoing VP of Annual Fundraising, and scores of youth and adult community volunteers. It was held under a big tent from Classic Tents and was generously hosted by American Honor Motor Co., Inc. at its campus-like headquarters in Torrance.

New to the Main Event XXVI was a well-received wine auction, a special section of the silent auction. Several guests took home prized wines to add to their collections.

Guests enjoyed dinner by Michael Shafer of The Depot restaurant in Torrance. Ticket sales of a 2008 Lexus LX570 Luxury SUV donated by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. exceeded expectations, and the lucky winner was announced just before the Live Auction (see story in this issue).

Dennis Rizza served as auctioneer for the Live Auction, which generated a significant portion of the evening’s proceeds. Guests bid on a variety of coveted items, including a Portuguese Bend Club membership; a wine country bus tour with Chef Michael Shafer; a diamond pendant necklace; a dinner and wine tasting at Restaurant Christine; a golfer’s dream vacation at Pinehurst and trips to the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup; a Celine Dion dinner and concert event; a USC spirit package; dinner with executive chef William Hall; a High School Musical 3 all-day set visit, and Cupid, a golden retriever puppy.

Dancing to the music of Dwight Kennedy and “Le Jazz Hot” continued until midnight and capped a memorable evening for all.

View the Photos

Download enrollment brochure here.

Coming again in Summer 2008! Summer Break enrichment summer school will be offered to children of the PVPUSD and surrounding South Bay cities entering kindergarten through fifth grade (as of September 2008). Look for information in your elementary child’s backpack this spring. Class information will be added to the website as programs are developed. For further information call 310.378.2278 or e-mail summerbreak@pvpef.org

2008 Summer Break Information

Available Classes

Autumn Harvest 2007
Thank You to our wonderful Autumn Harvest Sponsors!

For the wonderful wine:

Kevin Leach/Palm Bay Imports

For the awesome beer:

James Brown/San Pedro Brewing Company

For the delicious food:
Asaka Sushi
Café Pacific/Trump National
The Depot Restaurant
Frascati Ristorante
Gaetano’s Restaurant & Catering
Marmalade Cafe
Moon Dance Catering
Riviera Mexican Grill
Rockin’ Baja Lobster
Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza
San Pedro Brewing Company

For the fabulous rentals:
Classic Party Rentals – Jim Sala

Last but not least… the perfect venue:
Trump National Golf Club/Mike vander Goes

View the Harvest 2007 Photos

PEF Phonathon Thanks!
This year’s annual Phonathon raised over $122,000 to date, with more donations arriving daily. There were over 100 callers, including teachers and principals, who volunteered over 500 hours to make phone calls to school families asking for support of PEF. Of the 7,000 public school families in the PVPUSD, we have contacted 3,500 of them.

Volunteers told friends that the minimum suggested donation is $365. However, in order to increase participation among our schools, callers encouraged families to donate at least $50 so their school would get extra funding from PEF for their principal’s incentive plan.

These callers donated their time and energy away from their families on a school night to help us with our campaign. A multitude of thanks goes their way…

View the Phonathon Photos

Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation

Established in 1989 by Walter H. Annenberg, the Annenberg Foundation provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally through its headquarters in Radnor, Pennsylvania and offices in Los Angeles, California. Its major program areas are education and youth development; arts and culture; civic, community and the environment; and health and human services. In addition, the Foundation operates a number of initiatives which expand and complement these program areas. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge.

District News
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District serves the four Peninsula cities of Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates,  and has a population of approximately 11, 900 students. The school district's reputation for having a high quality education system attracts many families to this suburban area and its schools. Students attend, one early childhood center, ten elementary schools, three 6-8 intermediate schools, two comprehensive high schools and one continuation school. PVPUSD schools continue to be recognized for outstanding achievement at the local, state and national level. Community and parent volunteers make significant contributions to the public schools. The Peninsula Education Foundation has been successful in raising local funds to meet and supplement classroom needs. Strong PTA programs support and enrich school delivery systems.
For more information on the PVPUSD, visit www.pvpusd.k12.ca.us.com

California State Educational News

Did you know that 98% of graduating seniors in the PVPUSD continue on to higher education?  76% attend four-year colleges and 22% attend two-year colleges.

Also SAT scores from PVPUSD students are consistently higher than the Los Angeles average – and State average.  Math score in PV average 575; verses 480 for LA; and 500 State.  Verbal scores in PV average 550; versus 460 for LA; and 480 Statewide.