Photo by Madoline Markham.
Homewood Grown Preview 2014
The Homewood City Schools Foundation is planning its Homewood Grown dinner for April 3 at SoHo Square. Pictured are Superintendent Dr. Bill Cleveland, Foundation Board President Jill Kimbrell, Event Chair Rachel Stone, Roger Redmond of title sponsor Trust Building Services and Foundation Director Amy McRae.
The idea grew from a lunch at Johnny’s restaurant.
A group of Homewood City Schools Foundation board members knew everyone loves Homewood and its diversity, but they couldn’t think of any time designated to sit down and celebrate it.
The idea for Homewood Grown sprouted from there: a farm-to-table dinner to celebrate people who grew up here and people who chose to move here so their children could be Homewood grown.
“When you say you are Homewood grown, it says a lot,” foundation board member Julie Keith said, noting how Superintendent Dr. Bill Cleveland often talks about how education is about more than head knowledge. “No matter when you come into the system, the school has a goal to keep you at the very top, and you are a complete person when you leave.”
The Homewood City Schools Foundation is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the April 3 event on the Terrace at SoHo Square.
Food will be served family style at tables of 10, and the menu will be the creation of restaurateur Chris DuPont. DuPont, owner of Café Dupont, is opening a new restaurant in SoHo this spring and is also a Homewood resident and the parent of children in the school system.
The event will feature:
A video of alumni of various ages telling their personal stories about the impact of their Homewood education.
Teacher Impact Awards given to five teachers, one from each school, as nominated by the community and chosen by a group of community members.
Presentation of the Jodi Newton Scholarship for leadership and character.
Sale of emerald green T-shirts with the Homewood Grown logo for $20.
Live music.
All funds raised will help support grants for Homewood schools and other foundation programs that aren’t a part of the school system’s normal budget. Each year teachers submit ideas for grants to the foundation.
“It gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate between schools,” Keith said. “The results have a lot to do with the success of the school system.”
As foundation board members point out, parents might not know something like an ACT prep class started with a foundation grant, but they know it’s unique to Homewood.
The schools foundation also supports professional development training for school faculty and staff and provides new technology in the classroom and support for special education programs that exist only because of its support.
This year the Homewood Grown event will take the place of the annual Showcase event at Homewood Middle School. As the event continued to grow, foundation leadership felt they could not get their message across the way they hoped, and each school has started a similar Open House Night to display the work of students to their parents.
Homewood Grown organizers said they are grateful to people in the community who are sponsoring the event. Title sponsor Trust Building Services’ owner Roger Redmond is a Homewood resident and parent of two Shades Cahaba Elementary students, and Brasfield and Gorrie is the video sponsor.
“So many people who moved to Homewood say it’s because of the school system,” Foundation Director Amy McRae said. “It means so much to the businesses to have the school system, and we appreciate the community support of the system.”
No matter who you are, Homewood Grown organizers are working to create an evening that is both fun and reminds them why they are glad to live in Homewood.
“We want it to be a celebration,” Keith said. “I think people are going to be really moved, laugh, cry.”
Organizers are encouraging Homewoodians to buy a table and invite their friends to join them with confidence that it will not rain that evening (although there is a backup plan to hold it in Rosewood Hall). A limited number of tickets are available for the event. For more, visit homewoodcityschoolsfoundation.com.
Homewood Grown
April 3, 6-9 p.m.
The Terrace at SoHo Square
$100 per ticket
Tickets available at
