Press Releases 

Coronado Idol Returns to Benefit Local Schools
Annual CSF Telethon Showcases Student Talent, Aims to Match Fundraising Record

CORONADO Eagle and Journal, February 4, 2009 - Following its record breaking debut, Coronado Idol returns to the Coronado High School (CHS) Theater on March 18th from 5- 9 p.m., and will be broadcast live by Presenting Partner Time Warner Cable on Channel 19 within Coronado. Based loosely on the hit television series "American Idol," the annual Telethon, now in its 21st year, promises to be an entertaining evening filled with song, dance and all-around family fun.

For the first time in Telethon history, each hour of the show will be hosted by a different Coronado school site. Celebrity host Jane Mitchell will be joined by school administrators and over 1000 students as they showcase the very best of our talented youth. This year promises to be better than ever with record numbers of elementary students performing, and more acts being written and taped by our middle and high school students. In addition, many of CUSD's favorite teachers will be appearing live with crazy challenges to raise much needed funds for our schools. The phone banks will be staffed by teacher volunteers, community leaders and members of our local business community, ready and willing to take your generous donations.

As well as an evening of fun-filled family entertainment in the theatre, the fun will spill over into the CHS Quad where the senior class will host their annual fundraising BBQ and local restaurants will provide additional tasty treats for purchase. The very popular Coronado Idol solo stage will return where, for a donation of $25 to CSF, any individual or small group can perform live for the crowd. "Our goal this year is to build on las t year's success both as a fundraiser and a community event," says Terry Farrelly, chair of the CSF Telethon Committee. "We encourage all members of the local community to come down on the night to celebrate our talented students and more importantly, support Coronado's public schools via CSF in its final fundraising event of the year."

Despite the current economic climate, CSF hopes to match the success of the 2008 event, which raised over $150,000 and attracted record numbers of new donors. “CSF is the non-profit fundraising arm of CUSD and all funds raised at the Telethon will pay for Technology Resource Teachers (TRTs) at each of the four main campuses and provide much needed funds to support programs at each campus for the 2009-2010 school year. CUSD is anticipating $1 million in mid-year cuts and additional cuts for at least the next two years per projections from Sacramento commented Executive Director Patty Cowan. “With 92% of CUSD funds coming from state and federal sources, local funding from CSF provides much needed funds the schools have direct control over.”

Limited opportunities are still available for business partnerships and many volunteers will be needed, both during the day and night of the event. Telethon DVDs will also be available for purchase to commemorate the night.

If you are interested in participating in any way, please contact Development Coordinator Kathleen Wakefield at 437-8059, via e-mail at kwakefield@coronado.k12.ca.us, or visit www.csfkids.org for more information.