Homewood Grown event celebrates schools

Rain moved the Homewood Grown event inside this year, but the celebration on April 16 was just as lively. More than 500 people attended the Homewood City Schools Foundation event.

The program began with a welcome by Amy McRae, director of the Homewood City Schools Foundation, followed by a message from the Homewood City Schools Superintendent Dr. Bill Cleveland. After a family-style meal by Cafe’ DuPont and a dessert from the Pastry Art Bake Shoppe, foundation president Julie Keith described what the foundation has accomplished over the last year. She then introduced the two Homewood Grown guest speakers, Jeanne Jackson and her son, Jay Lester.

Emmie Smith, chair of the Foundation’s grant review committee, then presented a video highlighting the mission of the Homewood City Schools Foundation. Trent Ponder, foundation president-elect, closed the evening by thanking everyone for coming and offering an opportunity to make a donation to the Homewood City Schools Foundation.

Also at the event, the foundation recognized five outstanding teachers with the second-annual Teacher Impact Awards. Theresa McKibben received the award for Edgewood Elementary, Jerome Isley for Hall-Kent Elementary, Stefanie Fort for Shades Cahaba Elementary, Steve Sills for Homewood Middle School and Mindy McBride for Homewood High School.

The event also featured drinks by Royal Cup Coffee and Magic City Juice Bar, a club run by Brianna Morton’s Homewood Middle School students. Trust Building Services was the title sponsor, and Alabama Power was the “branches” sponsor.

To learn more about the Foundation, visit homewoodcityschoolsfoundation.com.