The Friends of Renton Schools will host its fifth annual benefit breakfast, headlined by speaker Randy Gardiner, on April 28.

Gardiner is the president, CEO and chairman of the locally based Red Dot Corp., the leading manufacturer of heaters and air conditioners for commercial and military vehicles.

The benefit is the main fundraiser for the school foundation that provides supplemental funding to support the Renton School District. This year, donations will go toward the new funding priorities in STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

The breakfast is free, although there is an opportunity to donate. Donations to the organization are 100 percent tax deductible.

The Friends of Renton Schools’ mission is to develop a sustainable funding resource that bridges the gap between federal and state funding for schools, so students can obtain an exceptional, world-class education.

The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. at the Renton Pavilion Event Center, 233 Burnett Ave. S.

Learn more about the April breakfast and the Friends of Renton School organization at www.friendsofrentonschools.org.

The money will be used to support funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs for schools through the Renton School District.

Contributed
Dr. Merri Rieger, Renton School District superintendent (third from left), and Pam Teal, chairwoman of the Friends of Renton School Foundation (fourth from left), receive a check for more than $24,000 from Walker’s Renton Subaru representatives.

“Providing these funds to our local schools is something that I and my team here at Walker’s Renton Subaru believe in,” said Walker’s Renton Subaru owner Dale Walker. “A high quality school system benefits our entire community.”

The funds were collected as part of Subaru of America’s national Share the Love event. Customers who purchased or leased a new vehicle Nov. 21 to Jan. 2 contributed a $250 donation to any of five national charities or made a local donation to the Friends of Renton Schools foundation.

Walker’s Renton Subaru staff said they embraced the opportunity to raise funds for local schools and worked hard to ensure customers knew of the charitable-giving opportunity.

They sold or leased enough cars during the event to be the No. 1 selling dealer in the Northwest zone, and third in the United States among 641 dealers nationwide.