The art of the fundraiser
<p>West Ridge Elementary PTO in Post Falls raised money to create a four foot by five foot mural of a cougar, the school's mascot. The mural is made up of over 12,000 half inch square 'cell photos' that include a variety of pictures of the students and community.</p>
POST FALLS - A fundraising project for some much-needed classroom technology for West Ridge Elementary School generated a great piece of art, too - a photo mosaic of a cougar, the school's mascot.
With the help of a $10,000 donation from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, and a parent-teacher organization fundraiser selling tiles for the photo mosaic, the school was able to purchase 11 classroom-projection systems, said Ron Lahr, PTO co-president.
The mosaic is in the school's commons and cafeteria area. School officials there Saturday hosted the public and donors to unveil the new mosaic, and thank donors and those who were involved in the fundraiser.
Businesses, families, organizations and others sponsored the roughly 4-inch ceramic tiles that make up the mosaic. Together from a distance they form the mascot at Falls Park. The mosaic is 4 feet by 5 feet, and has 12,000 half-inch "cell photos." The photographs are of students, families, donors and community members.
"This mural represents much hard work on the part of our PTO president, Ron Lahr, and the generosity of many families and businesses," said Mandy Surratt, West Ridge's principal, who spoke during the unveiling.
The Post Falls School District school is located at 1758 N. Clarkfork Parkway, and opened in the fall of 2008. It has about 430 students in grades 1-5.
Surratt thanked donors, and the tribe in particular.
"Whether you donated $30, or $10,000, you are showing that you value education," Surratt said. There were more than 40 contributors, she said.
Including the money from the tribe, the PTO raised $13,600 for the equipment and mosaic. The mosaic cost $2,600 to make, Lahr said. The mosaic was made by one of Lahr's businesses, Custom Tiles by X-things, of Post Falls. The business donated time to create the mosaic.
Businesses paid $100 to sponsor a tile, and individuals and families paid $30. The sponsors got their name on the tile.
Speaking to Chief Allan, Coeur d'Alene tribal chairman, Surratt said, "Our mission mirrors yours, in that we both want to also enhance the social, moral, and economic and academic well-being of our community," Surratt said.
The tribal chairman, who spoke briefly during the event, said "It was the right thing to do" to make the donation.
Lahr also thanked state Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, who sought help from the tribe for the project.
"(The tribe) knows the importance of education," Nonini said, noting that the project is off the reservation. "It's also phenomenal what they do off the reservation, if asked."
Lahr said this project has inspired the school to do more to teach students there about the history of the tribe and its culture.