Kevin Palena, Summit View High School Principal
On October 1, 2022, BGEF held its annual fundraiser at the Battle Ground Community Center. The hybrid event, known as Destination Graduation, consisted of a sold-out live auction and dinner, as well as an online “virtual” auction.
Foundation co-president Colleen O’Neal shared remarks on the impacts of the Foundation over the course of the pandemic, which included the Farm to Table community food boxes, music, tech, arts, and vice principal grants to schools, and the Backpack program. She highlighted how despite the pandemic, the Foundation was able to fulfill every submitted request, giving out more than 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, and distributions totaling over $85,000.
Paula Gunther, an English teacher from Summit View High School, served as the event’s emcee, while Doug Quinn from Clark Public Utilities returned as auctioneer. Auction items included themed baskets, locally donated services such as oil changes, tickets to sporting events, and driving instruction, and getaways to places like Great Wolf Lodge and Leavenworth. By the close of the virtual auction, more than $52,000 had been donated by the community, surpassing the amount from the last live event in pre-Covid 2019.
Plans are already underway for Destination 2023!
