The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation is preparing for its 4th Annual BBQ and Bingo fundraising event, scheduled for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Clubhouse Grill in Fort Walton Beach.

• The event, which supports local students and teachers, will begin with a social hour at 5:00 p.m., followed by bingo from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Attendees can also participate in a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

Tickets are priced at $40 per person, which includes dinner and two bingo tickets. The foundation encourages community members to attend, emphasizing that all proceeds will directly support classroom activities and student scholarships.

As a 501c3 non-profit organization, the Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation focuses on extending educational opportunities for all students within Okaloosa County. One of its primary initiatives is the Take Stock in Children (TSIC) scholarship program, which currently provides two-year college scholarships and one-on-one mentoring for 64 academically deserving high school students from low-income families.

The foundation has set an ambitious goal to increase the number of scholarship recipients to 100 students over the next five years. Each scholarship requires a $3,900 investment from the foundation, which is then matched dollar for dollar by the Florida Prepaid Scholarship Program, effectively doubling the impact of local contributions.

• In addition to supporting TSIC, the BBQ and Bingo event helps fund mini-grants for local teachers and promotes overall student success through various initiatives.

The event will take place at the Clubhouse Grill, located at 1955 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.

The Okaloosa Public Schools Foundation continues to play a crucial role in enhancing educational opportunities for local students and supporting innovative teaching initiatives in Okaloosa County.