Fifth annual Disco Inferno/White Wedding event to benefit area school libraries

The Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership is looking forward to “Rocking the Cradle” with community members at the fourth annual Disco Inferno/80s Dance Explosion. “It’s a Nice Day” to dine and dance to ’80s music and to support Coeur d’Alene Public School Libraries.

This radical evening begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday, at the Coeur d’Alene Eagles Lodge, 209 Sherman Ave. Tickets are $30 per person if purchased in advance at www.cdaep.org. Tickets can be purchased after Oct. 1 and at the door for $40 per person. Admission includes dinner by Left Coast Fusion and a complimentary drink ticket. Donated funds will be used to purchase books and supplies for each library in the Coeur d’Alene School District. Mike Kennedy, former City Council member, will emcee the evening’s fundraiser.

In the past four years, CEP raised nearly $100,000 for libraries across the Coeur d’Alene School District. The school libraries within the district receive no funding from the state. The librarians have been elated to have funds to augment their collections and expand their materials and resources. CEP is anticipating another successful year, thanks to very generous community sponsors: bankcda, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Hawley Troxell, Idaho Central Credit Union, Lancaster Market, NCCE, P1FCU, Payne West, Perfection Tire, White Pine Health, Sean Walsh/Walsh Law Group, Numerica Credit Union, Overhead Door, Grandparent’s Club, Oxyfresh, Melts and Emily Beutler — The Real Estate Girls.

School libraries can be instrumental in helping students grow as readers and as people. Librarian Kiersten Kerr says, “The Coeur d’Alene High School Library has received over $7,000 from Disco Inferno to use for books and resources for our library. The community’s incredibly generous support has enabled me to update our print and electronic nonfiction resources for our students’ use.”

Libraries are at the center of helping teachers and students learn about reliable sources and find current, quality information. Kerr says, “Good quality print and electronic nonfiction is expensive, so having these funds available is an amazing gift that our students and staff appreciate so much! Learning to use the library to find information prepares our kids for a successful future outside of high school.”

CEP is driven by the belief that every student deserves a high-quality, public education. It strives to unite individuals, businesses and organizations in support of excellence in public education, to keep the community informed about educational developments and to advocate on a local level. Student literacy rates and academic achievement are significantly affected by student access to strong school library programs with up-to-date, relevant learning materials.

Fundraising to benefit Coeur d’Alene public school libraries fits closely with CEP’s mission. This event not only recognizes the important role that libraries play in student literacy and academic achievement, but it is a fundraiser that promises to benefit every school in the district.

CEP encourages our community to come rock out to hits from the ’80s, invest in this important part of our education system and show support for making Coeur d’Alene Public School Libraries a model of excellence.

Snag those tickets at www.cdaep.org for Oct. 6 and be there to “Rock the Cradle of Love” for our school libraries!