The Mercer Island Schools Foundation (MISF) presented a $1.2 million check to the Mercer Island School District Board of Directors at its Aug. 24 meeting from its BRIDGE2017 campaign to support Mercer Island schools.

The check was presented by MISF Executive Director Penny Yantis and MISF Board Co-President Christina Riffle.

“This check reflects the Mercer Island community’s strong and long-standing commitment to excellence in our public schools,” Yantis said.

“Thank you to our community for its incredible support for the BRIDGE2017 campaign, and to the foundation for its efforts in supporting our exceptional students and extraordinary teachers,” said MISD Superintendent Donna Colosky.

Funds from the BRIDGE campaign are used to help reduce class size, provide professional development for staff and to purchase new curriculum materials.

The BRIDGE Campaign kicked off on April 25 at the Breakfast of Champions and continued to grow with “fun”raising and community building events at each school.

The $1.2 million goal was exceeded on the last day of school through the generosity of a private donor and their major gift, Yantis said.

Last fall, the MISF Phone-A-Thon priority funding request of $484,000 was also 100 percent funded and distributed throughout the school year, bringing the Mercer Island community investment for the 2016-2017 school year to nearly $1.7 million.

“It was definitely a record-breaking year for the Mercer Island Schools Foundation, our biggest and best year ever,” Yantis told the School Board. “We are honored to pass through to the school district the gifts shared by this community.”

The foundation’s “All in for Kids” phone-a-thon will be held Oct. 23-24 and the Breakfast of Champions will be held April 24, 2018.

For more information about the foundation and to donate, visit mercerislandschoolsfoundation.com.