Carnival floats, beads and king cake will be on parade when Jenks Public School Foundation holds its 24th annual dinner and auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Exchange Center at Expo Square.
The Mardi Gras-style benefit will offer guests dinner catered by ExpoServe, a doubloon liquor toss, a bead toss during the parade and a half-and-half raffle for a cash prize.
Silent and live auctions will feature a Labrador retriever puppy, dinners catered in your home by professional chefs, a trip to New Orleans complete with airfare and dinner at Commander's Palace, additional vacation getaways, Thunder tickets, OU and OSU signed memorabilia and tickets and much more.
Kirby Lehman, the outgoing superintendent of Jenks Public Schools, will be honored.
Funds raised from Mardi Gras will support the programs and projects of the Jenks Public Schools Foundation including classroom grants to teachers, Vision of Excellence awards to teachers and staff, Junior Achievement BizTown and the employee appreciation banquet.
"Each year, funds raised at the auction allow the Jenks Public Schools Foundation to support our students, faculty and staff. During these tight budget times, the work of the Foundation allows the district to reward and support our outstanding faculty and staff through the Vision of Excellence Awards," Lehman said.
"Students and faculty also benefit from classroom grants to teachers, which allow teachers to take learning experiences for students to a new level. The funds donated at the auction allow us to provide these top-tier experiences for the students."
Mardi Gras sponsors include Bernard and Jenny Hairs; Kevin and Kristen Howell; Morrow, Lai, and Edwards pediatric dentistry; Nabholz Construction; Parkhill's; Saint Francis; Manhattan Construction; MidFirst Bank; Laura Dennis; and GoFresh.
Tracy Kennedy is chairwoman and Christy Latham is co-chairwoman. Committee members include Stephanie Christner, Theresa Smith, Kristen Howell, Jenny Hairs, Kristin Ware, Codi Winters, Mollie Mills, Catherine Hart, Monica Lester, Liz Flake, Brenda Wilson, Janet Neal, Karen Earle, Bernard Hairs, Darla Branstetter Koetter, Tabitha Cornell, Amy James, Julie Davidson, Tish Bryan, Angela Turner, Jenks Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Marlo Duffy and Lisa Hansink, foundation administrative assistant.
Jenks Public Schools Foundation Board Members include Michael Abboud, Bruce Berkinshaw, Jesse Boudiette, Rachel Campbell, Pam Cass, Stephanie Cipolla, Wendi Fisher, Marty Grunst, Lari Gulley, Joy Hofmeister, Tracy Kennedy, Phil Lakin Jr., Joanne Lucas, Nancy McKay, Susan Meeker, Sally Mulready, Nick Sidorakis, Heidi Xing, Danny Christner, Karen Earle, Tony McDoulett, Ryan Michalak and Theresa Smith.
Tickets to Mardi Gras are $75 per person and sponsorships are available. Tickets can be purchased at tulsaworld.com/jenksmardigras or by calling the JPS Foundation office at 918-299-4463.
