It has been 15 years since a small group of parents and community members gathered to create the Oakdale Educational Foundation. Since that day the 501c3 non-profit has generated and donated over $1.5 million back into the Oakdale Joint Unified School District.

The goal was simple: to raise money with the purpose of offering teachers the opportunity to enrich their students’ education. OEF serves all 14 OJUSD sites and is a separate entity from the district. Teachers are awarded money for varying needs through a grant process. A total of $85,000 was awarded throughout the district via grants in the 2017-18 school year.

“It’s the whole school district,” OEF Treasurer and dinner event co-chair Michelle Goodreau said. “It’s separate from the district. A non-profit run by all volunteers.”

OEF secures its funding through private donations, as well as two annual events: the Support Oakdale Schools (SOS) Fun Run event in the spring and the Annual OEF Dinner hosted each fall.

This year marks the 15th Annual OEF Dinner, which will be hosted on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Gene Bianchi Community Center. Local Chef John Surla will be overseeing the preparation of the dinner. This year’s theme is “On With The Show” – Red Carpet Benefit Dinner.

A total of 250 tickets are available for the one of a kind event which will feature a large variety of silent auction items, as well as a live auction to help raise funds for the Foundation.

The Oakdale High School Jazz Band will perform to greet attendees. Later in the evening the OHS choir will perform following the live auction and just before the now popular “Last Call” auction.

“It’s a way to donate without going up to the table,” Goodreau said of the Last Call opportunity.

Each year the Last Call auction is earmarked for something specific. All proceeds from this year’s Last Call will go toward lighting for the Oakdale High School theater.

For additional information or to purchase tickets visit www.oefkids.org or call (209) 872-0236.