Director Calls Toast to Education in Farmington Hills an 'Overwhelming Success'

More than 500 guests celebrated “A Toast to Education”, an Oct. 25 fundraiser hosted by the Farmington/Farmington Hills Education Foundation and held at Farmington Hills Manor.

In a press release, Foundation executive director Chris Greig called the event "an overwhelming success".  

"It was a wonderful example of our community working together in support of our students and schools," she said. "We will definitely be back next year.”

The event featured a live jazz chamber trio, food tastings from local restaurants, auction items from local businesses and wine and beer tastings. Local business owners, parents, residents, foundation trustees and school administrators served as guest pourers and servers.  

“It was a beautiful event; I was very impressed and heard nothing but positive remarks," said guest pourer Karen Blazaitis, owner of Mid American Fitness.

Proceeds will be used to fund innovation grants in scholastic achievement, extracurricular enrichment, the arts and technology integration.

Auction items were donated by many local, regional and national businesses, and guests purchased raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes that included sporting event tickets, restaurant gift certificates, art and more. 

Michele Jakacki, owner of Focal Point Studio of Photography, served as auction chair. “Every prize showed the generosity of our community and the dedication of our FFHEF board members...this was truly a team effort,” she said. 

In its first year, the Education Foundation awarded $50,000 to a wide variety of programs. Grants funded teacher-submitted projects and initiatives ranging from promoting music sensory learning in special education to purchasing a high definition Go-Pro high definition camera for the TV-10 Technical and Career education program.  

Learn more at www.ffhedfoundation.org, or write to Greig at director@ffhedfoundation.org.