Rim Ed Foundation gala supports educational excellence

By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer

 

Nearly 100 members and supporters of the Rim of the World Educational Foundation attended the May 18 dinner gala in the grand ballroom at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. The annual event, which is designed to raise funds to support educational excellence at all seven Rim of the World Unified School District schools, raised approximately $36,000 of the $85,000 they need to support the program for an entire school year. They accomplished that from ticket sales, as well as by holding a silent auction and a reverse auction.

The event, with its movie theme, kicked off at 4 p.m. with a red-carpet reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and beverages in the lobby adjoining the main ballroom. Prior to the 6 p.m. banquet, the ballroom was resonating from live music provided by the musical team of Kiki and Greg, which inspired couples to join local dance instructor Steve Valentine on the dance floor. This was followed by a “Name That Movie Theme Song” contest, featuring songs from Oscar-winning films. Winning with only two of 23 songs missed was the team of Dr. Paul Boccumini and Mary-Justine Lanyon.

Next came what was billed as an “Oscar-winning buffet dinner” featuring a fruit platter, salad, prime rib slices, salmon filets, spaghetti  and meatballs and rolls with butter.

Following dinner, Rim Ed Foundation President Jo Bonita Rains introduced three Rim of the World High School students: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) seniors Hailey Vargas and Odaliz Victorio and Career Technical Education (CTE) senior Gracie Lutcavish.

Hayley told the attentive crowd that she has been mentored by Mountain Skies Astronomical Society astrophysicist Dr. Loran Parker. She will be attending UCLA, majoring in astrophysics. “AVID taught me how to set goals and the techniques to achieve them,” she said.

“I would not be here if it were not for the community built around AVID, filled with students who share similar experiences,” Hailey said.

Odaliz will be enrolling at UC Berkeley, focusing on neuroscience research in preparation for a career as a child psychologist. She said the college prep training she received and the support from her AVID teacher, Ms. Schuljak, and other AVID students encouraged her to succeed on this academic dream in neuroscience.

When she entered school, Odaliz felt unsure and didn’t know how she could ever reach her goals but now has the confidence and skills to succeed because of AVID. “With the help of AVID, I managed AP classes, two sports, a job and taking care of my three younger siblings all at once. It also gave me a community. I met students who, like me, were navigating similar challenges.

“AVID inspired me to found a Hispanic culture club on campus and become AVID vice president,” Odaliz said. “Most importantly, it taught me that I aam capable and that dedication matters just as much as talent.”

Gracie, who has resided on the mountain her entire life, took welding classes at Rim High School for two years and plans to become a fabricator in the aerospace industry. Initially, she said, “I was too scared to weld because I was convinced I was going to catch on fire but Mr. Ferrara convinced me I wouldn’t. He somehow knew I was capable of doing it when I didn’t even know it myself.”

Mr. Ferrara encouraged Gracie to enter a welding competition held at San Bernardino Valley College. “I practiced each type of weld every day until the competition,” Gracie said. “When I was practicing every day, I began to think that this is the career I want to do. Whenever I would flip the hood down, everything felt at ease and peaceful, like I was in my own little world. I realized I wanted to pursue a career in welding.”

She will be attending the American Fabrication Academy in the fall. Her mother, MaryAnn McCombs Lutcavish, was a 1981 Rim High graduate and her father, Mike Lutcavish, was a 1985 Rim graduate.

“The Rim Ed Foundation helps your kids achieve excellence through the programs they fund,” Rim Ed board member Jim Ferranti told the audience as he launched into the gala’s reverse auction.

Ferranti began the call for bids at $85,000, explaining that, while he didn’t expect anyone to bid that much, that is what the Foundation needs to raise to fund next year’s program. When he reached $10,000, Mike Arreguin, vice president of Burrtec, raised his paddle.

More and more paddles were raised at the bid amount declined, with many guests bidding $1,000, $500 and $100.

Earlier in the evening, a silent auction took place with attendees bidding on gift baskets containing gym memberships, dog grooming, restaurant gift certificates, concert tickets, admission to sporting events, jewelry and other gift items, just to mention a few.

In 1983, Rim of the World Educational Foundation was established as a non-political, nonprofit 501c3 organization dedicated to providing continuing financial support to preserve and encourage educational excellence in the Rim of the World Unified School District.

The Platinum event sponsors were Burrtec, Hake Productions and Joan Leopold Brown. At the Gold level they were Midge Reisman, the Mountain Jewish Community and the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead. Silver level sponsors included Brian Cohen, Mary-Justine Lanyon and the Susan Sparks Foundation

Several organizations support the Rim Ed Foundation during the year: Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, Burrtec Waste Industries, Amazon, Schools First Credit Union, Masaji LLC and Mountain West Financial.

The Rim Ed Foundation is a volunteer group of community members who want to make the education of each student be the best it can be. Board members include President Jo Bonita Rains, Vice President Mary-Justine Lanyon, Treasurer Dana Chapin, Secretary Ann Marie Van Hulle and board members Erika Becker, Jim Ferranti, David Ficke, Angela Harrington, Karen Hoag, Carol Kinzel, Cecilia Ponce de Leon, Tracey Montenegro, Terrance Sullivan, Ana Rojas, Laura Sharp, Priscilla Williams, Maddie Wright and board member emeritus Marilyn Mays.

For more information on the Rim Ed Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.RimEdFoundation.org.