More than 550 educators, business leaders, community members, and elected officials will fill the Riverfront Convention Center of Craven County on June 11, for the PIE Annual Luncheon.
This annual event supports and recognizes the educators in Craven County Schools. PIE awarded over $400,000 through various grants and programs during the 2023-24 school year.
Debra Hurst, President of Partners In Education, announced the luncheon will host nationally renowned speaker, educator, and bestselling author of “Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching,” John Perricone, as the keynote speaker.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for seating, with the event beginning at noon. The luncheon will be catered by The Flame.
Tickets are $35 per person.
John Bircher, an attorney with Davis Hartman Wright and West Craven High alum, will emcee. This event is open to the public.
Tickets can be purchased from the PIE Ambassadors or at CravenPartners.com.
Ms. Hurst explains, “The luncheon is an excellent opportunity for our community to support our public-school educators. The event finances PIE Grants, grants awarded to teachers for creative and innovative projects in Craven County Schools’ classrooms that fund materials for technology, science, music, and art projects, along with supplies and books for our students. I’m pleased to announce that PIE awarded over $35,000 in PIE Grants during the 2023-24 school year.”
Brandy Popp, Chair of the Fund-Raising Committee, said she is thrilled to welcome Mr. Perricone.
Ms. Popp explained, “This year the theme is Zen-like in keeping with the title of Mr. Perricone’s book. Mr. Perricone has spoken in all 50 states, abroad, and on June 11, in Craven County! We are so pleased to have him join us!”
Mr. Perricone was a Health Educator and Psychology teacher in the Maine-Endwell School District in upstate N.Y. for 31 years. His love and passion for teaching have made him the recipient of local, state, and national “Excellence in Teaching” awards.
He has been lauded across the country for his work in inviting his audiences to reflect upon their personal philosophies of life and the role that that philosophy plays in shaping their work ethic and the profundity of their life’s calling.
After 48 years of training, Mr. Perricone has received his 7-degree blackbelt — the highest rank that his teacher, world-renowned karate master Hidy Ochiai has ever awarded in his 56 years of teaching.
He sings with the Barbershop Harmony Society and has performed throughout the country in a quartet known as the Troubadours.
Mr. Perricone says, “The only thing that exceeds my zest for my profession and hobbies are the love of my wife Vicki and my daughters Loren and Hannah.”
PIE’s Partners for the Luncheon are B/S/H/ Home Appliances, CarolinaEast Health System, Century 21 Zaytoun-Raines, Coastal Carolina Health Care, Coastal Grove Family Dentistry, Copy + Print Warehouse, Craven Community College, Craven County ABC Board, Craven County Farm Bureau, Craven County Wood Energy, Edward Jones Investments Financial Advisors: Michael Bass, Georgiana Bowman, Joanna Carr, Robert Knisley, Kevin Page, Taylor Paramore, Dan M. Roberts IV, Jordan Silver, and Michael Sprague, First Citizens Bank, International Paper, MetroNet, Mitchell Hardware, Moen, Morgan’s Tavern & Grill, Navy Federal Credit Union, Neuse River Region Association of REALTORS, Inc., Optimum, Piedmont Natural Gas, Pierce Group Benefits, Rotary Club of New Bern, Smithfield Foods, Sumrell Sugg — Attorneys at Law, Sun Journal, The Bate Foundation, The Harvey, The Insurance Center, Toyota of New Bern, Trent Cadillac Buick GMC, Truist, United Bank, Weyerhaeuser, White & Allen, Williams-Scarborough-Gray, WITN-TV, and WRNS 95.1 & WERO Bob 93.3. Supporting Partners: John Bircher — Davis Hartman Wright, Duke Energy Carolinas, and Marine Federal Credit Union.
To learn more about PIE grants and programs, how to be a PIE Partner, and to purchase a ticket, contact Darlene Brown, Executive Director, Craven County Partners In Education, at 514-6321 or visit https://cravenpartners.com/.
Craven County Partners In Education provides grant funding and special programs to classrooms and schools within the Craven County Schools system. It is a 501©3 Non-Profit Corporation, Tax ID #56-1335975, and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 919-814-5400. The license is not an endorsement by the State.
Since 1989, PIE has been changing the lives of students and families in our community by providing our educators with financial resources that enhance and reward innovative approaches to educational excellence.
