Hap and Chris Happel, parents of two recent Garfield graduates, hosted our first party in their Mount Baker home. Clarence Acox signed up a student Jazz quartet, all juniors at Garfield: Ryan Batei on drums, Roxy Coss on tenor sax, Christy Moores on Bass, and Will Squires on piano.

Pamela Green, organizing committee co-chair, acting as Master of Ceremonies, welcomed alumni, current and former parents, and current staff of Garfield, and introduced second-year Principal Susan Dersé. Susan described how she came to Garfield and talked about the past, present, and future of Garfield. Larry Talor, '68, led the group in the alma mater, and then everyone joined in on "I'm so glad I go to Garfield High!"

Susan introduced Ben Slivka, '78, organizing committee co-chair. Ben talked about how the Foundation effort was kicked off in May, 2002, at a meeting organized by Susan Dersé, and how the organizing committe has met monthly to pursue the goal of creating a non-profit group to support Garfield. The organizing committee expects that alumni, former parents, and friends of Garfield would contribute funds toward an endowment, the earnings of which would be used to fund grant proposals by students, faculty, and staff. The grant making committee of the Foundation board would review grant proposals and make funding decisions based on their understanding of the current needs of Garfield.

Ben said that the organizing committee is targeting a Fall, 2003, gala party to formally launch the foundation and jumpstart the endowment, but he emphasized that over the next year the most important effort for the organizing committee is to expand in size, to ensure the impact and longevity of the Foundation.