Blue Jeans and Bling finds room to grow

The 10th Annual Blue Jeans and Bling Gala will take place this Saturday, February 6, at Crossties Event Venue, located at 324 East Broad Street in Texarkana, Arkansas.

The event, put on by Atlanta Education Foundation (AEF), is sponsored this year by State Bank and Buzbee Law Firm.

A Champagne Cocktail Hour will be held at 5 p.m. All sponsors will be able to bid on silent auction items before the doors open at 6 p.m. Silver Star Catering will be serving dinner and Ambush, a Shreveport band, will provide entertainment beginning at 9 p.m.

“We have changed venues several times because we needed room to grow,” said Brooke Giesler, AEF Special Events Coordinator. “We’ve tried to stay local but no place here has the room. This year we are hoping for 250 people. Tickets are still selling, but 200 have already sold. Crossties has plenty of space for us to spread out and exercise COVID safety precautions.”

The Atlanta ISD Education Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit tax-exempt philanthropic organization of citizens who share a vision of enhancing education in the Atlanta ISD. It is composed of a volunteer Board of Directors working to increase private support to fund creative and innovative educational programs for students in Atlanta ISD.

Since its founding in October 2010, AEF has raised over $200,000 for special projects and grants in the school district. The Blue Jeans and Bling event is the largest fundraiser, having brought in $52,000 in 2020 alone.

The AEF Grant Committee is dedicated to ensuring that donor funds are distributed based on strict criteria. The Foundation only awards monies to creative and innovative projects not funded through tax dollars.

Recent projects funded by AEF include: The Atlanta Middle School STEM program; The Atlanta Primary School Music Enrichment Program, directed by Katherine Stubbs; Virtual Reality Googles for the middle school library; the Hop Shop at the high school; and the Top 10% Senior Banquet held at Sweet Briar Farm in Linden.

“We are very proud of the Top 10% Banquet,” said Brooke. “Each student brings their parents and one teacher as guests. The students and teachers all give a short speech about the other’s influence in their life. It’s very inspirational.”

The group is also responsible for the Distinguished Alumni Awards Program which recognizes and honors former students of AISD whose achievements, strengths of character and citizenship serve as models to inspire and challenge today’s students.

Each year the recipients are awarded during ceremonies at the Homecoming game.

Tickets for Blue Jeans and Bling are still available at www.atlantarabbits.org and are $100 for individuals, but Atlanta ISD teachers and staff receive a discount. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Sponsors for the event include: Platinum Level – State Bank and Buzbee Law Firm; Gold Level – Cooper Tire, The Eye Guys, Heritage Insurance; Silver Sponsors: Dylan Thompson Wealth Management, Christus St. Michaels – Atlanta, Giesler Family Dentistry, Graphic Packaging, Hanner Funeral Service, Genesis Primecare, Farmers Insurance Kellie Cox, State Farm Insurance Kelli Ashbrook-Cummings, Superior Realty, Stanco Safety Products, and Jeff Peace Financial; Bronze Level – Spencer and Chastity Hale, Kerry and Erin Wells; Maroon Level – Roark Motor Supply, Linebarger Law Firm, Spring Creek Enterprise, Texans for Chris Paddie, Clements Construction & Realty, Universal Forestry Products, Mark Mays Real Estate, Cass County Bank, Fit Family Nutrition, Amanda Whatley/Lafferty Law Office; Friend Level – Atlanta Property Management, Farmers Bank & Trust, Atlanta Air, The Ark Veterinary Hospital, Bowie-Cass Electric Co-op, Danny and Leigh Stanley, Family Eye Care Clinic, Jay and Susan Tidwell, April and Ralph Hale, Brian and Jennie So, Michael and Lacy Houck, Lach-On Construction, Kirkland Concrete and Duncan Thompson Transportation.

AEF Board of Directors are: Kelly Joslin, President; Brooke Mays Giesler, Vice President and Special Events Coordinator; Sidney Harrist, Secretary; Marilyn Cobb, Treasurer; Chastity Hale, Executive Director.

AEF Members include: Brooke Allen, Dee Ammons, Cyndy Chamblee, Lauren Crumpler, Margaret Fitts, Jodi Garrison, Lanny Giesler, Lauren Gilbert, Jason Harris, Brittanie Lowery, Katie Martin, Kirby McCasland, Jessica Pastakia, Jaci Price, Emily Ransom, Keri Richardson, Camile Sherman, Deanne Simmons, Charlotte Stanley, Leigh Stanley, Joel Steger, Dylan Thompson, Susan Tidwell, and Bonnie Westbrook.