Community Celebrates Shorewood Schools with Local Event

Support Shorewood Schools and teachers by attending the ninth annual Swing with Shorewood event March 19.

Supporters of Excellence in Educational Development, Shorewood’s 501(c)3 nonprofit educational foundation, will throw its annual community party to support the schools at Pier Wisconsin’s Discovery World this year, and you’re invited. Anyone with an interest in supporting Shorewood schools is encouraged to get involved, either by attending or supporting in other ways.

Milwaukee’s Discovery World at Pier Wisconsin will be the venue for this community celebration, which starts at 6 p.m. and promises to again be a lively and fun party. Student performers and the silent auction will make a stir in the Atrium, alongside the Great Lakes Exhibit. Upstairs, a 360-degree view of downtown Milwaukee will accompany dinner by Bartolotta’s. Pre-dinner music will be provided by student musicians. Dinner will be followed by the popular Sound by Design D.J. and dancing.

The mission of the SEED foundation is to promote educational excellence in Shorewood’s Public Schools. The vision of the organization has three tenets. The first is to ensure that each Shorewood public school student receives an education responsive to his or her talents and abilities, preparing the student to meet the challenges of the future. The second is to act as a catalyst in the community and provide the Shorewood School District with the financial resources necessary to continue its tradition of excellence and innovation. And finally, the third is to fund quality educational programming and initiatives in Shorewood schools that public resources are insufficient to support.

Last year alone, thanks to contributions and attendees at this annual event, SEED donated over $70,000 to Shorewood schools, including a large general fund donation plus grants to teachers for classroom projects.

This year's party includes many new features, while continuing to offer a top-notch silent auction, music, dancing, and raffle prize (42” LED TV entertainment package). This year, people from near and far will be able to find items in the silent auction on the internet starting in March, to enable folks from around the world to bid on items to show their support for Shorewood schools. People who are perhaps enjoying the sunshine elsewhere can also show support by donating to the event, or submitting an auction item by March 1 (perhaps inviting the lucky bidder to share your condo on the coast or in Aspen for a weekend).  

Just a taste of silent auction items makes a person think about some pretty special possibilities. Lucky winners will be styling in a new suit from Harley’s, sporting new jewelry from Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, and be jet-setting on a cruise on the Milwaukee River with friends. With a change of clothes, another winner will enjoy camping out at the beach, or heading for a weekend getaway on the shores of Lake Michigan. Yet another winning bidder will be packing a bag, renewing the passport (nice deal on passport pictures at Walgreens) and checking out that condo in Mexico! Don't miss out — follow the website at shorewoodseed.org for these opportunities and more.

Swing with Shorewood coordinator, Anne Clough, adds, “We all have a vested interest in the well-being of our children, our schools, and our community. March 19 is a night for us all to join together and give to the foundation, because our children are our future, and the future of this community is our responsibility.”

How can you get involved and show your support?

• Buy a ticket. Tickets are $80, $35 of which is tax deductible. Go the extra step: some adding a portion to the ticket price to sponsor an additional donation to the schools, making the ticket price $150.

• Donate an item for the silent auction. Clough recommends: “Join together with friends and donate something super special or unique. Try to get something donated or purchase at cost.”

• Bid online starting in March — www.shorewoodseed.org

• Check out some other ideas at www.shorewoodseed.org, like placing an ad in the event booklet, or making a donation.