While families and music and art lovers were having a great time at the Aug. 10-11 Kirkland SummerFest, held in and around Marina Park, they were also helping out Lake Washington public school students. As the event beneficiary, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation received $4,250 that will help it support academic excellence and success for all Lake Washington students.

Donations to the foundation go towards innovative classroom programs, the school district’s LINKS mentoring program and helping low-income students purchase school necessities.

The Schools Foundation was chosen as the event beneficiary to tie in with the festival’s theme of family.

According to Rob Butcher, choosing to partner with the foundation was an easy decision for the SummerFest organizers. It seemed a natural fit for Kirkland’s only free, family-centered summer festival, and Butcher and Michelle Sailor are planning to work closer with the Lake Washington School District to include more students in its 2013 SummerFest lineup. Proceeds from next summer’s festival will again benefit Lake Washington students through the foundation.

At the Oct. 2 Kirkland City Council meeting, SummerFest co-chairs Butcher and Sailor presented the Lake Washington Schools Foundation Executive Director LeeAnn Wood with a $4,250 check. Wood informed the council that the foundation serves all 51 Lake Washington District schools, almost half of which are located in Kirkland.

As an inaugural event, SummerFest organizers expected to host a crowd of about 10,000, while the beautiful weather, live music and art and food booths drew closer to 14,000. Drawing on this year’s success and adding music, art and entertainment by Lake Washington students to the 2013 event, crowds are expected to reach 30,000 people. This fun, community event looks like a new Kirkland tradition.

For more information about the Lake Washington Schools Foundation, please contact Wood at (425) 936-1414, leeann.wood@lwsf.org, or visit www.lwsf.org.