Story provided by Stillwater Public Education Foundation
Eating and education have been going together for 21 years! Stillwater Public Education Foundation (SPEF) is gearing up for its 21st annual Taste of Stillwater event on Tuesday, March 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Payne County Expo Center. This mega-buffet is a fundraiser for the foundation, which raises money to enhance educational opportunities in Stillwater Public Schools. “Taste of Stillwater has been a fantastic community-wide event and fundraiser for us over the years,” said Jenifer Bartley, foundation executive director. “The generous support we receive from local restaurants and businesses allows SPEF to host this event each year.”
Highlighting food donated by Stillwater area restaurants, Taste of Stillwater gives ticket holders a chance to sample and discover the best of Stillwater cuisine. The family-oriented event features an all-you-can-eat buffet that is sure to please everyone. More than 30 restaurants traditionally participate in the event and over 1,000 people usually attend. Proceeds from the fundraiser help fund SPEF grants and programs. “Already this school year, SPEF has funded more than $54,000 back to Stillwater classrooms,” said Bartley. “We are able to provide additional resources, materials, and technology to support instruction and curriculum, that otherwise the district would go without if not for the supplemental funding from the foundation.”
SPEF is a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation so donations are tax-deductible. Since the foundation’s inception in 1984, over $1 Million in funding has been provided to the district. “It’s amazing to see the difference SPEF has made in the lives of both teachers and students,” Bartley stated. “For example, through our Tech 2 Teach campaign, we have funded over $230,000 in technology to Stillwater Public Schools. Items such as document cameras, projectors, Chromebooks, and iPads. Certainly in these trying economic times for school districts due to a lack of state funding, those are things the district could not have afforded to buy without our help.”
Attending Taste of Stillwater is a fun and delicious way to support the foundation and in turn Stillwater teachers and students. The event features a tremendous variety of cuisine, with offerings ranging from pizza to sushi, as well as barbeque and desserts.
Ticket sales information is available on the SPEF website at spef.stillwaterschools.com. Prices are as follows:
- Advance tickets: $15-Adults; $5-students (K-5th grade); FREE-PreK & younger.
- Advance “SPEF Special” discount: 10 Adult tickets for $100.
- Tickets at the door: $20-Adults; $5-students K-5th grade; FREE-PreK & younger