The Claremont Educational Foundation (CEF) will celebrate its 30^th anniversary on Wednesday, April 20 at the Padua Hills Theater by holding a gala honoring the principals of the Claremont Unified School District beginning at 6 p.m.

The event will feature food, drinks, live music, a silent auction and a raffle drawing for a one-carat pair of diamond earrings donated by The Diamond Center and Hearts on Fire, a news release read. Special guest speakers will also make their way to Padua Hills for the event.

All are invited to attend the anniversary gala. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.SupportCEF.com/gala. A single ticket is $100; or $175 for a pair.

Sponsorship and digital tribute journal opportunities are also available.

Thirty years ago, CEF was founded to “save our schools” during a fiscal crisis caused by state budget cuts. Since those early days, the organization has evolved beyond saving educators’ jobs to becoming CUSD’s primary fundraising partner, a news release said.

CEF funding supports CUSD through grants for art and music programs at the District’s seven elementary schools, technology at its three secondary schools, and innovative teacher-led projects.

While the organization’s purpose has grown, the mission of CEF has remained the same: “to protect and enrich quality public education in Claremont through community involvement.”

“For 30 years, CEF has worked to raise funds for Claremont Unified School District and during that time has been able to provide more than $3.7 million in support,” CEF President John Heitkemper said. “We can think of no greater way to celebrate this relationship than by honoring the principals who work so hard to ensure that every student at every school receives an impactful and achievement-filled educational experience in CUSD.”

Educational foundations have become an important resource for many school districts, increasingly helping to fill gaps in funding from state and federal sources.

“Grants from educational foundations, like CEF, are critical to ensuring that the financial needs of the public schools in their communities are met,” then CUSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeff Wilson said in a statement. “The principals in our schools are on the forefront of seeing how this grant funding is used and ensuring that it positively impacts the educational experiences of every student. Recognizing them is a well-deserved honor.”

For more information, visit supportcef.com/gala.