Education Foundation holds annual gala

Last week, the Rockville Centre Education Foundation held another successful gala, this year honoring Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray and former middle school teacher Cris Carman.

Murray was the Gala Honoree this year for his dedication to the village and the children in it. Carman was a social studies teacher at South Side Middle School until 2015, and was recognized with the Ruth Fins Award. This year’s gala raised approximately $85,000,

The annual gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Education Foundation. Since its establishment in 1991 by community members, the Rockville Centre Education Foundation, a tax-exempt, independent, non-profit organization, has funded special programs that district teachers and school administrators propose to expand the horizons of the classroom experience in village schools. A volunteer entity with no overhead costs, it advances creative initiatives and innovative programs that enhance educational opportunities for all students in the Rockville Centre public schools. All of the money raised by the foundation during the year is given back to the school district in the form of grants that fund programs above and beyond what the budget is capable of. Education Foundation grants have funded visits from authors, new programs, new technology and much more.