Farm-to-table fundraiser returns

Lights will be hung across the terrace in front of Rosewood Hall on April 16. Platters of farm-to-table food will be shared family-style. The event will be about more than a picturesque dining experience though.

Parents who often only see each other in passing will join together with local business people and elected officials to celebrate Homewood City Schools.

“There is not any other place you can get the big picture of what is going on in the schools,” Homewood City Schools Foundation President Julie Keith said. “I think people appreciate that.”

The second annual Homewood Grown, which benefits the foundation, will look similar to last year’s debut event. Café DuPont will prepare the food, valet parking will be available and the event will kick off with a time to mix and mingle. The annual Teacher Impact Awards will be given, and videos celebrating alumni who are “Homewood grown” will be shown. 

“Hopefully people leave with better knowledge of the foundation,” event chair Rachel Stone said.

All funds raised at the event go directly back into the schools. At the end of April, a set of Homewood teachers will receive grants for the upcoming year with funding from the event. In addition to the grants, each year the foundation funds a PSAT preparation course for high school juniors and underwrites initial fees for the National Board Certification process for teachers, among other projects.

Keith emphasized the importance of supporting the foundation now more than ever.

“The funding model for Homewood schools has changed because there haven’t been increases in the state education budget, so we have to be prepared to fill in the gaps as they arise,” Keith said. “As our foundation capacity has increased, [the school system’s] budget has decreased. That means we have to raise more money to be prepared.”

Funding new technology continues to be a priority for the school system as well as the foundation. This school year the foundation purchased new Chromebooks for Homewood Middle School as the school adopted a new online tech book for social studies classes. 

Last year the Homewood Grown event sold out its 470 seats, the maximum that can fit if rain moves the event into Rosewood Hall.

“It’s important to connect to a community of people who know what we do and can support us,” Keith said. 

Organizers are encouraging Homewood residents to buy a table and invite their friends to join them. A limited number of tickets are available for the event. For more, visit homewoodcityschoolsfoundation.com.

Homewood Grown

April 16

6-9 p.m. 

Terrace at SoHo Square