- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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Lansing's Corporate Development Committee (CDC) Tech Boosters raised over $20,000 last Friday from online auction, corporate donors and ticket sales for the Hoedown Dance Party, Fantasy Casino and BBQ Dinner. About 100 supporters showed up to the Lakewatch Inn wearing western garb to gamble, dance, and just have fun. CDC has raised a half million dollars over the past 18 years to fund technology donations to the Lansing schools.This year saw a change to the name of the organization that added 'Tech Boosters' to the name, to make it clearer what the group actually does. its sole function is to donate technology to the schools for student use. Last year CDC donated 90 new Chromebooks so every student in the fourth grade had the use of a computer. The CDC also provided smart boards for Lansing classrooms, and purchased seven graphinc calculators for students whose families could not afford the required devices. The organization has provided microscopes to the science department, heart rate monitors for physical education, computer animation software for the art department, and a digital audio and video broadcasting center. It also funded a lab for Project Lead the Way and provided the start-up funding for Lansing's robotics club.
Originally the annual dance featured both regular and silent auction items displayed at the event. Over the past few years CDC has figuratively put its money where its mouth is, using technology instead. The auction has been moved online, but this hasn't dampened supporters' ardor -- 68 people registered to bid for 75 items this year. Over 100 barbecue dinners were sold.
Corporate donors included Borg Warner, Cargill, CFCU, McDonalds of Ithaca and Elmira, Tompkins Trust Company, incodema, several Lansing doctors, BraMaJamA Photographers, Beth Hogan from Warren Real Estate, Corning Inc., and the Lakewatch Inn.
"We have not yet solidified our plans for the money," says CDC's Stephanie Perine. "We have been working with Lansing School Superintendent) Chris Pettograsso to determine the projects in need of funding for the 2016-2017 school year. An announcement will be made in the summer with the confirmed plan for projects being supported by the CDC."
Corporate donors included Borg Warner, Cargill, CFCU, McDonalds of Ithaca and Elmira, Tompkins Trust Company, incodema, several Lansing doctors, BraMaJamA Photographers, Beth Hogan from Warren Real Estate, Corning Inc., and the Lakewatch Inn.
"We have not yet solidified our plans for the money," says CDC's Stephanie Perine. "We have been working with Lansing School Superintendent) Chris Pettograsso to determine the projects in need of funding for the 2016-2017 school year. An announcement will be made in the summer with the confirmed plan for projects being supported by the CDC."
BraMaJamA Photography's Katie McMillen took themed pictures of Hoedown attendees
Since CDC has raised $500,000 for technology for the schools, this must be a computer reboot.
Bidding was still open for the online ayuction using a computer at the Hoedown
Corporate sponsors were featured on 'Wanted' posters around the Lakewatch Inn
Board Of Education member Glenn Swansonv12i16