A sold-out celebration of the school district’s 100th anniversary in downtown Denver last night raised more than $500,000 for the newly re-energized DPS Foundation, foundation chairman Bruce Benson and vice-chair Cole Finegan announced during the gala event.

“That’s an amazing achievement given the state of the economy over the last year,” said Benson. “But I think it shows recognition that we all have to get involved in our public schools…a school district is only as strong as the community it serves. By the same token, the community is only as strong as its school district. You can’t separate the two.”

The event brought together a wide variety of community leaders, state and local elected officials, teachers, principals, five former DPS Superintendents, former members of the DPS Board of Education, dance and theatrical luminaries, college presidents, alumni, members of the broader philanthropic community, government officials, candidates for City Hall, and many other supporters of Denver Public Schools.

Also in attendance were the first Latino female principal in Denver Public Schools, Lena Archuleta, and the first African-American female teacher in Denver Public Schools, Marie Greenwood.

U.S. Congresswoman and Denver Public Schools graduate Diana DeGette made a special trip to Denver for the event. Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar and Lieutenant Gov. Jane Norton were also in attendance.

“We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support shown tonight,” said current Board of Education President Elaine Gantz Berman during the event. “This is the first time Denver Public Schools has ever attempted an event of this magnitude and nearly 1,000 of you are here tonight. This is a true tribute to your outstanding support of DPS.”

The event was held at the downtown Marriott Hotel. The evening featured upbeat performances from John F. Kennedy High School cheerleaders, the George Washington High School Barbershop Quartet, Denver School of the Arts violinist Zoë Aqua, the Keith Oxman combo, and the High School Citywide Choir. The choir closed the event with a moving song written by Rishel Middle School music teacher Stephen Nye especially for the celebration.

The DPS Foundation’s mission is to support arts, athletics and after-school activities in order to improve academic achievement throughout the district.

Board President Berman said the foundation’s efforts will provide direct support to classroom learning. “The more that students see school as an inspiring, challenging and inherently interesting place to be - a place that offers them a variety of activities and experiences - the more their hunger for learning will grow,” she said. “As better students, they will also aim higher. And that fits right back with Superintendent Jerry Wartgow’s over-arching goal for the district - setting high expectations for students, parents, teachers, and all of us.”