The annual Breakfast of Champions event, put on by the Mercer Island Schools Foundation to help support Mercer Island schools raised $660,873 on Tuesday morning.

The event, held at the high school, brought together over 500 supporters of Island schools, and featured Jean Enersen of King5 and Puget Sound Energy’s Andy Wappler.

The Foundation had hoped to raise a total of $1.2 million to help keep Island classrooms small.

During the event, Superintendent Gary Plano spoke about education the idea makers of the future.

“Our students today will grow up and may one day find cures to diseases, find new sources of energy, and have the strong ethics and character to lead financial institutions, teach children and run companies. But they and we can’t do it without you,” he said.

“(The) Breakfast showed that once again, this community is more than willing to step up and support teachers and students,” said MISF executive director Penny Yantis. “We are slightly ahead of last year’s total at this time and thrilled with the results. We look forward to receiving additional generous donations in the weeks ahead. Thank you to all!”