CRESTVIEW — Riverside Elementary School has $2,500 extra to support its creative programs, following Tuesday’s second annual Soaring with Art silent auction.
Among auctioned items were students’ original artwork, local artists’ contributions and business’ gift certificates and donations. Abstract paintings, a patriotic wreath from third-grade teacher Laura King and painted umbrellas made by Debbie Shipp's first-grade class were some of the selections.
The Shoal River Jazz Band, Riverside Strings and student solos served entertainment for attendees who helped support fine arts education.
Click here for a photo gallery of the art fundraiser >>
"We are trying to build an art program in our school because we don't have one," said event organizer and Title 1 instructor Bridget LaRue. "We need supplies every year because with 950 students we have in this school … supplies go very fast."
Many parents attending said they wanted to support the school’s cultural curricula.
"Creativity is so important … art definitely promotes that," said Kelli Burgess, who attended with her 10-year-old son Kevin. "I am all for people being creative; I think it’s great they do this here."
Mike Roberts agreed.
"It would be nice if everybody had a stronger emphasis on the artistic side," he said. "I think it helps, in a complementary way, develop other natural things we can think about like math and science."
Ashley Roberts, Mike’s 9-year-old daughter, said she "felt really cool" upon learning her abstract rendition of palm trees would appear on the event poster.
"She spends a lot of her time drawing, finding things to draw and a lot of time with music," Mike said. "We're very proud of her for winning."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Riverside Elementary raises more than $2,500 for fine arts program