NEWS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
October 28, 2021
Contact: Kris Reyes
(831) 333-6966
[email protected]
Santa Cruz, CA – Drive for Schools, the largest school fundraiser in Santa Cruz County, raised a record-breaking $744,645 for local schools this year. Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Drive for Schools has raised $7,989,845 for Santa Cruz County schools since the program started in 2005.
Ticket sales were exceptionally strong this year. Just a few examples of many schools that broke their own Drive for Schools records from previous years are Scotts Valley High which raised $33,450 this year, Bay View Elementary which raised $15,437, Main Street Elementary which raised $21,300, and Baymonte which raised $26,945. The winner of the $25,000 Grand Prize was Christian Garcia of Oakland.
“I was born and raised in Watsonville, and I bought the tickets from two nieces who attend Bradley Elementary School and another niece and my goddaughter who attend Watsonville Charter School of the Arts,” Garcia said. “I just got married a few weeks ago and at our wedding, the girls were selling Drive for Schools tickets to our guests. It was so cute.”
Participating Santa Cruz County Schools keep all the proceeds from their tickets sales and use the money raised to fund important school programs.
“Valencia Elementary School was thrilled with our Drive for Schools fundraising outcome this year,” said school principal Caryn Lane. “We primarily use the money collected to fund instructional assistant support in the classroom for our TK-3 learners. We also use the funds to provide teachers with financial support for purchasing special classroom materials.”
Drive for Schools runs for 5 weeks every fall. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk covers the cost of the cash prizes and donates staff time to organize and run the fundraiser. Hundreds of school volunteers coordinate their school’s ticket sales. Dozens of local businesses donate additional prizes for the event. Tickets and posters are printed by Mission Printers. Visit https://beachboardwalk.com/drive-for-schools for a complete list of winners.
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