Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice will be the keynote speaker at an upcoming fundraiser for Renton schools.

The Friends of Renton Schools Foundation is hosting the annual “Be a Champion” fundraising breakfast at 7:30 a.m., April 29 at the Renton Pavilion Event Center, 233 Burnett Ave. S., Renton. Check-in is at 7 a.m.

Rice was chosen to address the breakfast gathering because he is a “dynamic man, local UW graduate and has 35 years of service to our community,” said Pam Teal, foundation representative and school board member.

This is the fourth year for the annual fundraising event and organizers hope for just as much, if not more donations. The past three years have netted more than $200,000, according to Teal.

“We have a data base of more than 500 names, but the last time I checked we have more than 90,000 residents who live in Renton,” she wrote in an email to the Renton Reporter. “My dream every night is that if at least half our residents gave Friends of Renton Schools a $20 donation, we could make over $900,000. That would be an amazing gift to the 15,500 students and the dedicated staff in the Renton School District.”

Funds go toward early literacy, math development, support for students transitioning from elementary and middle schools, mentoring programs, Advanced Placement support and before- and after-school academic support.

As the school district gets ready to hire a new superintendent, the foundation looks to grow and welcome new ideas to achieve support for students, she said.

“Growing our foundation board from within and expanding out to the Renton community continues to be a priority,” said Teal. “

She reports that the Friends of Renton Schools has a growing list of supporters and corporate donors.

“I also want to say thank you to the community members, parents and teachers that give yearly to our foundation,” Teal said. “You are all making a difference and we thank you.”