After serving in the Legislature, former Utah Sen. Paula Julander thought she knew it all when it came to financially strapped schools. Then she became director of the 100% For Kids Credit Union Education Foundation.

"Microscopes, computers, kilns, art supplies, rugs to teach kids geography" — Julander begins to rattle off the list of supplies Utah teachers are lacking. Since its inception in 2002, the foundation has been raising money through Utah credit unions to try to make a dent in curriculum core funding needs.

This Saturday, the foundation is holding its first-ever public fund-raiser. The event will be held at the Salt Lake City downtown library and will include a silent auction. It's a family event, Julander notes, and includes a "No-Adult Auction" where children can bid on small items.

The Bids for Kids fund-raiser will include entertainment, food and games. As with other fund raising, "none of the dollars raised is ever used for administration," Julander says.

The former state senator says she has six four-inch binders full of thank-you notes from teachers and students for the more than $4 million in grants given out in the past five years.

"I see tears on the thank-you letters from teachers," she says.

The funds are given to teachers in grades K-12 in all 40 school districts in Utah. Most of the money has been used to buy books, Julander says.

"I didn't know the basic needs" of the state's schools, she says about her days in the Legislature as a Democrat from Salt Lake City. "I didn't now we were this short of books and science equipment."

Last year, the Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to Granger High teacher Scott Lewis to help students build a four-passenger airplane.

"There are kids there who would have never taken physics if they weren't building that airplane," says Julander. "It's thrilling to see kids get equipment that inspires them to enjoy learning."

Tickets for the event, which runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Salt Lake City downtown library, 210 S. 400 East, are $25, or $35 for two people and $40 for a family pass.

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E-mail: jarvik@desnews.com