Schools

Local Business Launches Scholarship Fundraiser for Big Ideas Fest

Brazzle Berry helps fund scholarships for a local teacher and a high school student to attend the Big Ideas Fest in December at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay.

All big dreams start with a Big Idea.

When local yogurt café Brazzle Berry was approached by the organizers of the Big Ideas Fest — hosted by ISKME, an education institute in Half Moon Bay — to help fund scholarships for a local teacher and a high school student to attend the three-day fest, a deal was made that will happen only with the support of the community.

For the entire month of November, Brazzle Berry has agreed to match community contributions at its flagship location dollar for dollar up to $750 to raise the $1,500, or two scholarships to the Big Ideas Fest.

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Held from Dec. 2 to 5 at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, the annual Big Ideas Fest brings together over 200 educators, policymakers, researchers, entrepreneurs, students, and funders from all over the globe who champion innovation in education. 

This is the fourth year that ISKME, a global non-profit promoting free and open access to teachers and learners of all ages located in Princeton Harbor in Half Moon Bay, has produced Big Ideas Fest, which draws close to 200 people, all of whom participate in collaborative groups to prototype and create solutions to important challenges in education.

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Last year, three of these solutions were awarded funding for further development as part of a newly launched incubator program called Big Ideas in Beta. Big Ideas in Beta groups from 2011 will be premiering their refined designs at this year’s Big Ideas Fest, and new groups will be chosen for funding for 2012 on Dec. 5, the last day of the fest. Also on the last day, George Lakoff, prolific author, cognitive linguist, and UC Berkeley professor, will speak on the importance of including art and humanities in the K-12 curriculum.

Brazzle Berry will hold several fundraising events in November, and people can nominate a teacher and a high school student by placing a slip of paper in the Brazzle Berry cash box or by emailing bigideas@iskme.org with the contact information for the candidate, including his or her school affiliation.

Fundraising events include:

Friday Night Fundraisers: 30 percent of proceeds on the sale of all store sales taking place from 4-8 P.M on Friday, November 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th, will go toward the Big Ideas Scholarship with additional free giveaways and promotions taking place every hour.

Coffee for-a-Cause: 30 percent of proceeds on all coffee sales in November will go toward the Big Ideas Scholarship.  

Community Silent Auction: A list of gift certificates can be bid on throughout the month of November, offering members in the community tangible rewards for any winning items that they bid on. Local businesses can donate items for the month-long silent auction by emailing BrazzleBerry@Gmail.com or dropping them off at the store.

Fundraiser Cash Box: A cash box will be placed near the front of the store for donating change or bills.

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