By Frances Alban, The Education Fund

The Education Fund’s annual charity auction, “The Art of Found Objects,” will take place at the Moore Building May 24, from 6-10pm. The event will showcase more than 150 one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork created by Miami-Dade County public school students and teachers representing nearly 50 schools. Since its inception, the annual auction has raised more than $722,000 by combining the power of a child’s imagination with the ultimate recycling program. Much of the artwork is crafted from materials “found” at The Education Fund’s Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials, a “free supplies for classrooms” program.

In the wake of massive school district budgets cuts, the budgets for local schools have been slashed. “These cuts have a direct impact on schools’ supplies, making classes like art, which depend on hands-on materials, much more difficult to teach,” said Linda Lecht, president of The Education Fund, a 26-year old non-profit, that works side-by-side with the private sector in Miami-Dade to ensure every child has the education needed to reach their full potential.

In addition to the silent auction, the event will feature live music, an open bar by Bacardi, an epicurean feast provided by Whole Foods, as well as the opportunity to bid on luxury items like vacations, jewelry, dining experiences and more. Key sponsors include Ocean Bank, The Children’s Trust, Whole Foods, DACRA and Bacardi.

Yearly, an A-list crowd turns out for the epic evening, comprising notable art collectors, artists, community and business leaders, as well as politicians. Past attendees include: Artist Xavier Cortada, Emmy-Award winning anchor of CBS4 News Shannon Hori; Myrna Palley, whose world-class glass art collection is on display in its own wing at the Lowe Art Museum; Federal Reserve Regional Executive Juan del Busto, Pinnacle Housing CEO Louis Wolfson, the Ziffs, School Board Member Raquel Regalado and many more.

For more information call 305.892.5099 ext. 23. Tickets start at $100, and can be purchased at the door. The Moore Building is located at 4040 NW 2^nd Ave., in the heart of the Design District.