The Niles Education Foundation will hold its inaugural summer fundraising event, “A Gala Tribute to Viking Legends,” at 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Orchard Hills Country Club.

It will be an evening of reminiscing good times with presentations made by former students, faculty and friends honoring former coach and athletic director Ed Weede and Peg Parrot, the former physical education teacher and long-time sponsor of the Niles Ushers Club.

The Emcee for the evening will be Niles High School graduate Allison Hayes, sports commentator for the Big Ten Network.

There will be a live auction and a silent auction with all proceeds going to the Foundation’s Innovation Grants program and other special projects. The event will include heavy hors d’oeuvre and a cash bar.

Tickets are $50 per person and are currently on sale:

Donors giving $5,000 will become Gold Legend Sponsors and will receive 8 free tickets to the summer gala.

In addition, Gold Legend Sponsors’ logos will appear on all printed material associated with the Gala, and in all publicity material, including prominent signage at the August event.

Donors giving $2,500 will become Blue Legend Sponsors will receive 6 free tickets to the summer gala with their company name featured prominently in the program.

Donors giving $1,000 will become Viking Sponsors and will receive 4 free tickets to the summer gala and their names will appear in the program as a sponsor of the August event.

Donors giving $500 will become Viking Donors and will receive 2 free tickets and their names will appear in the program as a sponsor of the August event.

Donors giving $250 will become Friends of the Vikings their names will appear in the program as a sponsor of the August event.

The mission of the Niles Education Foundation “Growing Minds…Changing Lives” is to acquire and grant resources exclusively in support of the Niles Community Schools for programs and projects aimed at enhancing, enriching and supplementing learning opportunities for students, staff and community