SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Food, fun and schools were just a few things on the minds of participants of the second annual fiesta held by the Spanish Fort Education Enrichment Foundation Saturday.

“It was a fantastic evening,” Sandra Bostrom, executive director of SFEEF, said. “We are thrilled at the turnout.”

“This year topped last year in sponsorships and attendance.”

Approximately 380 people came out to Five Rivers, Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, to help raise funds for Spanish Fort Schools. Those in attendance ate food catered by Riley’s Catering, listened to music by New Iberia, La.-based The Andy Smith Band and had all the beer and wine they could drink.

“It was a great turnout with lots of enthusiasm,” Debbie Horst, a director at SFEEF, said.

Guests enjoyed a Mexican-themed party with a fajita bar, Mexican dips, desserts and salads.

“It’s just nice to have your kids in a school system where they do things like this for parents,” Jeanne Hastings, mother of two at Spanish Fort Elementary said. “We came last year and had a blast and knew we had to come again.”

Football fans were even on the minds of organizers of the event. The theater located inside Five Rivers housed many Auburn fans who couldn’t make it away from the game, but still wanted to support their community’s schools.

“I just came to help out with the schools and the band — great band,” Leigh Kernley, an aide at the high school and mother of a fourth-grader at Spanish Fort Elementary, said.

A silent auction and raffle were held where participants won portrait packages from Storybook Photography and Melinda Mercer Portraits and a stay at The Grand Marriot Hotel in Point Clear, all valued at hundreds of dollars.

More than $70,000 was raised with sponsors alone, Bostrom said.

“We want to sponsor and support the enrichment foundation and be a good neighbor,” Pam Walker, a sponsor of the event with Greater Mobile Plumbing Supply, said of her patronage. “We live in the community and felt it was what we needed to do.”

The event is already booked for Nov. 7, 2009, due to popularity of bookings at Five Rivers. Bostrom said the event will “definitely” be held annually.

The education foundation was established in 2002 with a focus on the new high school. The Spanish Fort High School Enrichment Foundation, as it was originally called, was changed to SFEEF to benefit all Spanish Fort schools, Bostrom has said.

So far the foundation has raised more than $150,000 to provide supplies for schools such as books, funding for the athletic department, band instruments, laptops, office supplies, projectors and other items, according to sfeef.com, the foundation’s official Web site.

“Funds are very detrimental this year from the state’s decrease in educational funds,” Bostrom has said. “It’s already hitting the schools really hard this year.”

About $250,000 has been raised for schools to benefit teachers and students; this year’s funding will also help with teacher-student grants, Bostrom said.

SFEEF organizers are gearing up for the second annual Haulin’ Hooves and Bull Run Community Day Nov. 15. Last year more than 400 runners attended the event. This year’s run will comprise two races — a 1K and 5K race — where students put their teachers and parents to the challenge, Bostrom said.

Registration is required, however, prices have not been determined at this time.

Check back for future coverage on the run as the date approaches.

For more information call 401-SFEEF or visit the Web site, sfeef.com.