The Lake Washington Schools Foundation raised around $220,000 at the annual foundation luncheon at the Marriott Redmond Town Center on Wednesday, April 20, in Redmond.

Former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones and John Clayton of ESPN were in attendance for the fundraiser and spoke to the crowd.

Jones, who has two kids in the Lake Washington School District and was inducted into the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame, spoke about the value of his education growing up in a Q&A with Clayton.

“He talked about what it was like when he was a kid, about the teachers, the coaches and the family that was there to help him,” said Larry Wright, the foundation’s executive director.

The luncheon was the first of two fundraising events this spring, an event usually held in the fieldhouse at Juanita High School. JHS can fit around 1,000 people, but there were only chairs for 400 at the Marriott — and every seat was full.

“We were at absolute capacity,” Wright said. “We had to turn people away who tried to come at the end, people who will hopefully come for the [April 27] breakfast.”

Wright said the foundation aims to raise $320,000 this spring.

Registration is still open for the Spring for Learning Breakfast, scheduled between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on April 27 at the Marriott Redmond Town Center.