IRVINE GIVES BACK IPSF Gala Raises $780,000 for Public Education in the Community

THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY IN ORANGE COUNTY

Spirit of Excellence winners, Thrice, a quartet of Irvine public school alums IRVINE GIVES BACK IPSF gala raises $780,000 for public education in the community

BY KEDRIC FRANCIS FivePoint CEO Emile Haddad with his wife Dina Haddad IPSF President and CEO Neda Eaton uests dressed in black tie arrived at Kia Motors Headquarters in Irvine on an October evening with one goal in mind: to support Irvine’s public schools. The event was the Irvine Public Schools Foundation 7th annual Spirit of Excellence Gala, which hon- ors distinguished alums from Irvine Unified School District and raises money to keep the district among the best. G Angels Chairman Dennis Kuhl and Neda Eaton The Irvine High School drumline and pep band entertained at the gala Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, IPSF has donated more than $63 million in grants and program services to support local schools. What SNL alum Nasim Pedrad few may realize is that the state support IUSD receives is among the lowest of any school district in California. “With the funds raised at this gala we’re able to improve Irvine public schools, and fund critical programs and initiatives to enrich the educational experience of the over 33,000 students in IUSD,” said Neda Eaton, president and CEO of IPSF. Irvine Company’s Dan Hedigan and IPSF Board President Betty Carroll FivePoint chairman and CEO Emile Haddad announced that the company would continue as presenting sponsor of the event for another three years, and made an additional $100,000 donation. “As government funding evaporates, we will be called on more often to help fill the void, and it’s only through these public-private partner- ships that we’re able to preserve the quality and excellence of our public education,” Had- dad said at the event. “At FivePoint we have a deep commitment to enhancing the community because we believe that every solution in the world starts with education.” The Spirit of Excellence honorees included the IPSF Legacy Partners Missy and Chris Callero Ericka Zenz and IPSF President’s Circle Leader Janet Rome band Thrice, graduates of University and Irvine high schools in Irvine; Will Ferrell, a University High School alum, who was present in spirit FIVEPOINT’S thanks to a clever impersonation by Irvine High COMMITMENT School student and IPSF scholarship winner Ryan Lee; and the Irvine Company, which was TO EDUCATION Quality education is one of the named the Legacy Award honoree for its contri- most important ingredients to butions to Irvine schools. building a strong community. The entertainment included the Grammy FivePoint has long supported Award-winning Woodbridge High School choir, students, teachers and schools and is proud of its role a video skit by Irvine 5th graders impersonat- in helping insure that learning ing the presidential candidates, and a hilarious at the highest level is a central set by former Saturday Night Life cast member element in our communities. Nasim Pedrad. She grew up in Irvine, and poked FivePoint salutes Irvine Public Schools Foundation for its good-natured fun at the crowd: “This is my home. 20 years of commitment to I come back as often as I can. It’s almost 8 p.m.— Irvine Chief of Police Mike Hamel, Irvine Mayor Steven Choi, and IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker education. isn’t it past everyone’s bedtime here?”

Let’s make Irvine the very best it can be. Let’s keep our eyes and minds open to new ideas. Let’s go beyond the status quo. Let’s surprise ourselves with what happens next. Let’s go.

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