
The Education Foundation of Alachua County (EFAC) invites community members to attend an anniversary event honoring 30 years of Take Stock in Children on Thursday, Oct. 2.
The celebration will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Gainesville Woman’s Club, 2809 W. University Ave., and will feature a buffet-style, Italian-inspired dinner catered by Elegant Events and served by students from Gainesville High School’s (GHS) Tourism and Hospitality students.
Guests will also hear stories from students, alumni, mentors and partners, including remarks from Latorria Mosely Johnson, a 2006 alumna and current Howard Bishop Middle School assistant principal, as well as the Lynn family, whose multi-generational impact through Take Stock will be highlighted.
“This event isn’t just a celebration of our past; it’s an investment in the next 30 years of student success,” Tia Brock-Paul, executive director of the EFAC, said in a press release. “Every story shared and every gift given helps create the future our students deserve.”
Other highlights for the evening include:
- An interactive fundraising wall showcasing alumni achievements and an opportunity for guests to support the future: teachers, nurses, engineers, attorneys, program directors, financial professionals and more.
- Legacy and “Top 30 Awards” honoring outstanding partners and mentors.
- Take Stock Trivia with prizes and live donation opportunities.
- Final Voices remarks from local leaders and supporters, including Dr. Bea Awoniyi, Associate Vice President at Santa Fe College, and student/mentor speakers Evan Floyd and Aristotle Koukoulidis, of Campbell Spellicy Engineering Inc.
Tickets for the celebration are on sale. Anyone interested in attending can provide a $30 donation in advance to cover the cost of dinner.
To register and purchase tickets for the event, click here. For information on sponsorship opportunities, click here.
The last day to sponsor or buy tickets is Sunday, Sept. 21.
At the conclusion of the celebration, guests – in a separate transaction – will have the chance to tip their student servers (the anniversary event is replacing the Education Foundation’s annual Guest Waiter Night this year), with 100% of the tips going toward the EFAC’s student programs and the GHS Tourism and Hospitality students’ class project.
The education foundation has held similar events in the past, with as many as 170 people attending and up to $7,500 raised, the release said.
Charles Perry Partners Inc. (CPPI), VyStar Credit Union, and Drs. Caleb and Bea Awoniyi, of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, are the presenting sponsors for the anniversary event.
For more information about the celebration, contact Stephanie Kolb at fndkolbsm@alachuaschools.net or call 352-955-7250, ext. 6433.