Culver City Education Foundation Ready to 'Sip' for Local Schools

Showing support for Culver City schools with a bit of grown-up fun, the is gearing up for the third annual "Sip for Our Schools" wine tasting event Saturday—bringing in craft beers and a new restaurant to ensure a good time for those present.

"This is more of a gathering not a heavy-hitter thing," said Leslie Adler, executive director of the Education Foundation.

The foundation's major fundraiser, "Tribute to the Stars," happens in the spring. But while Adler expects to make some money to put toward the foundation's $1 million fundraising goal this year—dubbed the “” campaign—Sip for our Schools is more about getting people together. Adler calls it a “friend-raiser.”

The All For 1 Campaign, spearheaded by the , has been the buzz in the community since the campaign started in August, with parents and district employees rallying to get behind the cause. Both Board President Scott Zeidman and board member Patricia Siever have pledged their Board of Education salary toward the campaign, and the Education Foundation held a rally in September. Since the campaign began in August, the foundation has been suggesting supporters give $1 per day for 10 months or perhaps $100.

Those who do give this suggested amount receive a “We Support Culver City Schools” lawn sign.

According to Dan O’Brien—who serves as the executive vice president of the foundation and is an El Marino parent—the funds raised will go toward classroom technology updates, academic program support as well as music and art programs that have been hit by district-wide budget cuts. (Click to read on Patch.com).

As for Saturday’s event, food will be provided by an up-and-coming Culver City restaurant named Batch, which is expected to open in November or December of this year. The goal, according to restaurant owner James Couey, is to make the restaurant very community-oriented—which is why they agreed to provide the food.

"My mom worked with the schools in Manhattan Beach," Couey said. "We want to give back."

will be providing the wine, and with offering up the beer. Regarding the drink menu, Culver City’s hottest new beer spot was sure to select the best when providing for this Education Foundation event.

"They're a great introduction into what craft beers are all about," said Matt Meiers, City Tavern's general manager, about the Craftsman 1903 Pale Lager and Heavenly Hefeweisen ale that he selected for Saturday.

The 1903 in the name of the Pale Lager actually refers to the age of the recipe, not the beer. Both beers, Meiers said, will taste great on their own but will also go very nicely with the food selected for the night, which includes a three-cheese grilled cheese, fresh vegetables from a farmer's market and ratatouille.

To that end, Batch executive chef Salvador Roldan said that his challenge was to not only give the guests at the event a preview of the types of food that will be featured at the restaurant when it opens, but to find foods that will be neutral enough in flavor to match the wines and the beers.

"I do not know what the wines are going to be, so the flavor profile I'm shooting for is more broad-based," he said about the menu of hors d'oeuvres.

Adler said that she's hoping for a good turnout, but it can be tricky in a place like Culver City, where there's so much to do: "I hope a lot of people show up at the door," she said, adding that the casual nature of the event means that people can drop in for a little while on their way to something else.

Sip for Our Schools will be held at SPF: a Gallery, at 8609 Washington Blvd., Culver City on Sat. Oct. 15. It starts at 5 p.m. and will also feature live music from the Culver City High School's Jazz Combo. Tickets are available at the door for $40, or go to the foundation's website, www.ccef90230.org to purchase tickets and get more information.

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