College is Real, a program supporting mostly Latino, low-income college-bound students at Richmond High School will hold its first annual Auction and Dinner Dance at May 19 at 6 p.m.
The event will feature dinner, a live auction, DJ and a moving video presentation telling the story of College Is Real and the students involved. Attendees are encouraged to dress in the early 1960s style of the popular TV series Mad Men, the theme for the evening. Prizes will be awarded for best outfits.
“This will become a must-attend annual event once people learn about College is Real and hear the stories of these amazing students and all they have to overcome to attend college”, says founder, Brad Blake, Alamo resident and Co-Founder and CEO of Danville-based Blake Hunt Ventures.
Blake created College is Real in 2005 to help a small group of soccer players at Richmond High School who had the potential, but not the resources, to get into college. Since that time the program has exceeded its initial goals, and now offers guidance and financial support to over 100 high school and 80 college students, athletes and non-athletes, who strive to achieve the dream of attending college. Most of these students will be the first in their families to go to college. The success of College is Real is evidenced by its remarkable statistics; more than 90 percent of participants who’ve graduated from Richmond High are attending college with 80 percent going to 4-year colleges.
Tickets to the event are $75 per person and are on sale now at the College is Real website. Organizers say capacity is limited and the delay to buy tickets is May 11, so don’t delay. They’re anticipating a of local media interest in the colorful event, with a representative from Diablo Magazine in attendance.
For more information on the event and College is Real, go to www.collegeisreal.org
-Lisa Blackwell, LSBlackwell@aol.com
