FROM STAFF REPORTS

BIRMINGHAM – The seventh annual Taste of Shelby County, held Sept. 11 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center, proved to be the most successful to date for the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation by raising more than $10,000 to help provide resources and services for creative and innovative programs for the Shelby County Schools district.

More than 400 attendees sampled signature dishes from about 30 Shelby County vendors, including restaurants, caterers, bakeries, wineries and breweries.

Entertainment from the Duke School of Music featuring local high school student singers and musicians added to the fun atmosphere.

“This year’s Taste of Shelby County was outstanding,” Shelby County Board of Education member Jane Hampton said. “There was so much good food that I couldn’t try all of it. I loved meeting so many of the wonderful people who made this event such a success for our schools and students.”

Kendall Williams, Director of the Education Foundation, attributed the success to the support of premier sponsors, eCO Credit Union and Shelby Living magazine, tickets being available online at the foundation’s new website, shelbyedfoundation.org, and the foundation’s active Board of Directors.

“The foundation board was delighted with the great show of support from communities throughout Shelby County from those who attended and from all of the wonderful vendors who took part in the event,” said Garland Stansell, Education Foundation President and Chief Communication Officer of Children’s of Alabama. “ We can take great pride in the fine food establishments in our county and even more so in the genuine interest from our citizens in the educational success of our students and teachers.”

The Shelby County Schools Education Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization which operates independently of the Board of Education as a non-profit advocate for quality public education to provide financial support for schools and to strengthen interactive partnerships between parents, communities, businesses and educators to ensure that each student is offered maximum potential for achievement.  For more information, contact Director Kendall Williams at 682.5255 or k3williams@shelbyed.k12.al.us, visit Shelbyedfoundation.org or follow the Foundation on Facebook.