The 2007 Benefit for a Brighter Future was the most successful fundraising event ever for the RCEF, with close to $100,000 raised, and more than 170 people in attendance.

The evening started off with a table-top science experiment to extract DNA from strawberries, using little more than a baggie, some test tubes, soap, alcohol, and, of course, strawberries. Redwood City science teachers Pam Keller and Deborah Wood led participants through the procedure, while eighth grade students from North Star Academy served as helpful and charming lab assistants.

Next up was a lively panel discussion, moderated by KQED’s Kathryn Baron, with journalist John Merrow, Stanford University School of Education Dean Deborah Stipek, Intel executive Julie Dunkle, and Steve Westly, former State Controller and founder of the Westly Foundation. The panel explored the issues raised by the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the recently released Back to Basics study of education in California, as well as the media's treatment of education research findings.

After the panel discussion, RCEF President, Georgia Solkov Jack, presented the first RCEF Investors Award to Mr. Westly, in honor of his contributions, through the Westly Foundation, to the schools of Redwood City. Mr. Westly then went on to introduce former Assemblyman and current president of Children Now, Ted Lempert, who spoke on the subject of education in the region.

Guests finished the event with thoughtful roundtable discussions on the topic, “What does the ideal public school look like?”

Comments from guests at the evening's end were glowingly positive. Even the panelists were impressed. As Mr. Merrow stated: "That was a very well run event, the best I have ever been part of.” Participant and School Board Trustee Dennis McBride was personally moved, saying: "It makes you proud to live in Redwood City with so many wonderful people working so hard to make our schools better.” Perhaps parent C. Galistaus best summed up the evening with this comment: “What a well done, classy, fun event. Thanks to the RCEF for all that you do!”

A Special Thank You To:

Event Chairperson

Thea Henry-Hamilton

Moderator

Kathryn Baron, Host and Education Reporter KQED Public Radio

Panelists

Julie Dunckle, Project Manager Intel US Education

John Merrow, Peabody Award-winning education correspondent, Executive Producer/Host The Merrow Report

Dean Deborah Stipek Stanford University School of Education

Steve Westly Westly Foundation

Presenters

Ted Lempert Children Now

Ed Everett, City Manager Redwood City

Science Teachers

Pam Keller

Deborah Wood

Volunteers

David Adler, Layla Allman, Craig E. Baker, Ph.D., John Baker, Kayla Bauhaus, Megan Beach, Sarah Beach, Gail Blomstrom, Jacob Buckley, Tanya Capuano, Lisa Carlos Queener,  Hunter Carmichael,  Sheila Cepero, Jan Christensen, Tiki Dare, Ray Dawley, Sandra Dean, Pamela Estes, Maria Fernandez, Christine Galisatus, Jason Galisatus, Professor Kenji Hakuta, Mary Hofstedt, Tommy Hunter, Wendy Kelly, Ken Klieman, Greg Land, Audrey Lehrer, Noe Lozano, Dennis McBride, Alisa MacAvoy, Jessica Mihaly, Anthony Milani, Ernest Minelli, Elisa Neipp, Caila Parodi, Hon. Barbara Pierce, Greg Roche, Barry Schnur, Audrey Spickermann, Alexa Strutner, Jane Taylor, Rebecca Tseng-Smith, Jean Tyan, Beth Walton, Carina Whaley, Liz Wolfe.

In-Kind Donors

Julie Brodie, Photography
Gene Connetion:Chem Connection
John Martin
Elaine Park, Writing & Design
Liz Olson, Accounting