You can bet there’s plenty planned for the first ever Talladega County Schools Foundation Education Gala and Art Auction Nov. 12.

First, there’s the art, more than 90 pieces of original art to choose from, and from students and professionals as well.

Then there’s the “live art” area where three professional artists will be hands on with their talent, with pieces that will be created during the event and also auctioned.

The artists include Tommy Moorehead, artist in residence for Heritage Hall Museum; Lila Graves of Alexander City; and Jacksonville State University art professor Russell Everett; and you can watch them at work during the event.

There’s lots more in store for the evening, including a fabulous dinner catered by Classic on Noble, live entertainment from Joe Funderburg and his band who play all kinds of oldies and favorites, and a live and silent auction for the art. The auction takes place at the Hall of Fame SpeedChannel Dome.

The event is hosted by members of the Talladega County Education Foundation and has been organized to help raise money for the group. Each year, the Foundation Awards seven scholarships to deserving high school seniors of $1,000 each; gives teacher grants of $1,000 each to 17 teachers; gives system-wide grants of from $1,000 to $5,000 to one elementary school, a middle school and a high school each year; and also provides funding for The Imagination Library which supplies a book a month to children from birth until age five.

The Foundation is a nonprofit organization and was organized for Talladega County schools in 1993.

Its purpose is to establish, maintain and manage an educational fund to provide financial resources for special programs and projects beyond the state required educational opportunities for students in the Talladega County School System. The Foundation supports the school system’s vision to provide a challenging, rigorous curriculum empowering all students to be successful in the 21st century.

This will be first gala for the Foundation and the collection of art includes paintings, pottery, prints along with a set of Marie Moses jewelry. Among other artists with pieces in the offerings are Art Bacon, Sybill Lovell, Larry Allen and Judy Hartsfield.

Auctioneer for the evening is Les Stephens . The silent auction begins at 6 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Attire is business casual.

Tickets for the event are $50 each and tables for eight are $400. You may order tickets by calling 256/315-5100.

In addition to supporting the gala and auction, there are other ways to help the Foundation.

Those who make yearly contributions to the Foundation are eligible to become associates. There are five levels of associates. Those making contributions of $5,000 or more can become Foundation Advisors, those making contributions of at least $1,000 up to $5,000 can become President’s Associates and those who make contributions of more than $500 and under $1,000 can become Foundation Patrons. Benefactors make contributions of more than $100 but less than $500 and Friends of the Foundation make contributions of $100 or less.

Individuals or businesses making monetary of in-kind contribution receive a Foundation Chair.