The South Whidbey Schools Foundation is hosting its annual fundraising gala May 21 at the Useless Bay Golf & Country Club. This year’s theme is “Strong Schools = Strong Communities.”

A 5 p.m. social hour will include live music by members of the Langley Middle School Jazz Band, poolside demonstrations by the Underwater Robotics Club, a silent auction, and displays depicting some of the 30 funded projects this school year.

The gala helps fund teacher-requested educational projects. In 2015, nearly $14,000 in net income was raised at the event, and more than $225,000 over the past 20 years.

This year’s speakers include South Whidbey High School science teacher Greg Ballog, whose students received a Foundation grant for atomic modeling supplies, plus equipment for a collaborative project, “Understanding Carbon,” involving Ballog’s students and eighth grade students from Langley Middle School science teacher Susan Milan’s class for measuring and monitoring carbon in the environment. South Whidbey Elementary School teacher Bruce Callahan will also speak, presenting information about Foundation grants for the fifth grade Whale Watching Adventure, plus John LaVassar’s “Salmon in the Classroom” project, and Pam Muncey’s field trip, “Bringing Learning to Life at South Whidbey State Park.”

“We’re also excited to share information about recent teacher requests through our new Adopt-A-Grant program,” said Chris Gibson, president of the Foundation’s board. “We currently have eight requests for next school year for such equipment and projects as a water sensory table and a lightbox table to be used by autistic and multi-challenged students in the Life Skills class, Global Cultures Enrichment, first-grade science kits, fifth grade hands-on science experiments led by Leonard Good, funding for Salmon in the Classroom supplies and a hatchery field trip, the Whale Watching Adventure field trips, and band clinician tutorials for Langley Middle School students,” he added.

After dinner, South Whidbey’s “Conductor of Fun,” Jim Freeman, will serve as auctioneer for the live auction, which includes a Georgia Gerber sculpture of a sea otter, luxury accommodation packages on and off the island, the ever-popular Italian Dinner hosted by School Board member Rocco Gianni, plus several more items and experiential packages. Direct donations to specific academic areas will also be sought.

Visit www.SWSFoundation.org for a list of auction items and a link to purchase tickets.