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EL CENTRO — The Foundation for Education hosted the Second Annual Autumn & the Arts Fundraiser in the conference room at the �������� on the evening of Thursday, October 6.

Artwork, ceramic vases, crates, gift baskets, and flowers were displayed on tables arranged along the walls of the conference room. Advocates for education and the arts were seated on dining tables with floral arrangements as center pieces.

Outside the building, staff braved the wind and dust storm—which started earlier in the afternoon according to the weather advisory— as they welcomed guests to the conference room in time for the event that commenced at 6 p.m. 

“Our goal is to raise funds to support the work and initiatives that we do,” said Todd Finnell, Ed.D., county superintendent of schools and president of the Foundation for Education. 

“It is also about spreading the importance of the arts for our students. We would like art education to be available to our students,” said Finnell. “It is so rewarding to see the support of the community. And I am just appreciative.”  

Miriam Villarreal-Marcuson, a visual arts teacher to 7th and 8th graders at Wilson Jr. High School, selected 50 ceramic vases for the fundraising. A guest could purchase a vase for $100. Each vase had a number that corresponded to a crate/gift basket that was valued at $100-$600 donated by sponsors. 

“I am proud of my students for their generosity to donate their ceramic vases,” said Villarreal-Marcuson. 

Artists from Brawley Union High School, Holtville High School, and Southwest High School had their works on display at the fundraising—for sale or for exhibit only. The program showed 24 of these art pieces. 

Foundation board members, �������� trustees, educators, and guests were treated to live entertainment by vocalist Carmelia “Toot” Bell. She is the choir director at “Prince Chapel By The Sea” African Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Twenty-one volunteers from the AmeriCorps served dinner and offered other needed assistance for the evening. 

Anne Irigoyen, Foundation for Education Board Member, served as the auctioneer.

Auctioned items were “Red Instead” by photographer Letty Guerra, of Monarch Iconography Studio, for which the highest bid was $500; “Sunflower Suns,” a four-piece mosaic wall art by artist Cristina Salazar-Saucedo and her Sunflower Elementary after-school students, for which the highest bid was $550; and “Cesar,” an original signed and numbered limited edition print of Cesar Chavez by artist Simón Silva, for which the highest bid was $800. 

After a series of bid and counter-bid offers, Gerald Gauna, a retired US Postal service worker, offered the final bid of $800. 

“I would likely display ‘Cesar’ in the living room,” said Gauna. This was his third art piece by artist Simón Silva. “I like the paintings of Silva because the passion is there. Every detail has passion,” said Gauna.

Bari Bean, Marketing and Community Relations Manager at BHE Renewables, presented a check in the amount of $30,000 to the Foundation for Education. 

“We are going to use this donation to establish a county-wide arts academic event. We make sure that students have the ability to express themselves through the arts,” said Todd Finnell, Ed.D., County Superintendent of Schools and President of the Foundation for Education. 

The Foundation for Education is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports students and educational programs throughout Imperial County. The Foundation is an auxiliary organization of the ��������, according to the �������� website. 

Article by Joselito N. Villero
The Desert Review

Artwork pieces displayed at the Foundation’s Second Annual Autumn & the Arts Fundraiser at �������� in El Centro. Thursday, October 6, 2022

Vocalist Carmelia “Toot” Bell entertains guests during the Foundation for Education’s Second Annual Autumn & the Arts Fundraiser at �������� in El Centro. Thursday, October 6, 2022