Danna Sue Walker: Travel the Country at Street School’s Party World’s own Service

01/20/1998

This one’s going to be a little big country, a little bit rock n’ roll – . And a lot of jazz. Street School’s Street Party is it. The very popular event set to begin at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 will transform Woodland Hills Mall into party central — with the chance to take an indoor road trip and make some great stops along the way. Patrons will stroll, boot scoot, dine at roadside eateries, and bid on auction items as they “travel” across the country. There’s a new stop this year — Nashville — with headliner Brandon Jenkins. Other popular stops back for more fun will include Bourbon Street with the Tulsa Vintage Jazz Band, Route 66 with the Fabulous Freshtones and 42nd Street with Susan Bunn. Some of Tulsa’s most popular restaurants will serve up their specialties amid all the hoopla. Included are Bodean’s, White River Fish Market, Freddie’s, Back Street Bistro, Pancho’s, Steamroller Blues, Blue Rose Cafe, The Chili Bowl and the Delta Cafe. Celebrity emcees Beth Rengel and Mike McCarthy promise to keep the atmosphere lively. Street artists such as Bradini the magician will offer up their antics and there will be great stuff to bid on in live auctions planned at various street addresses. Items include a pair of round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines, two sets of round-trip tickets anywhere in the continental United States, a pair of Larry Mahon handmade ostrich boots from Boot City, as well as a hat, afghan and mounted steer horns from Lyon’s Indian Store. Mapco’s young executives are busy canvassing the community for items to add to the treasure trove. Street Party co-chairs are T.A. Hollis and eLiz (OK) Son. Wade Chapman is honorary chairman. Street Party 1998 sponsors include The Williams Companies, Bank of Oklahoma, Sooner Pipe and Supply Corporation Foundation, Central Plains Concrete, Mapco, Passport Travel, Southwest Airlines, Southwestern Bell, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Citgo, United Video Satellite Group, Alsip-Gilling Inc., the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, The Bama Companies, the Thomas Naugle Foundation, and the Tulsa Press Club and Benevolent Association. . Committee members include Frank Wolfe, Sen. Penny Williams, Doris Williams, Michael Son, Greg Roberson, Michael Pierce, Mary Parker, Rick Palazzo, Kathryn Offermann, Steven Nell, Paula Moore, Beverly Moore, Gary Miller, Cindy Mancester, Kerry Malone, Curtis Long, Paul Lindquist, Susan Scott and Dan Katz, Sarah Hansel, Mark Hanna, Dr. Scott Hall, Deborah Fleming, Lou Fitch, Martin Fiscus, Susan and Lynn Fesperman, Brad Evans, Mitch Dittus, Libby deVerges, Rebecca Dozier, Tuck Curren, Maralene Coggins, Stephanie Cipolla, Carolyn Burke, Tom Byers, Caroline Benediktson, Bart Bartlett, Pam Avison, Lynda Andress, Cindy Allen and Street School board president Donna Nutter and her husband, Dale. This third annual Street Party is more important than ever because 1998 marks the 25th anniversary for the nonprofit, alternative education and day treatment program. Nutter said, “We hope to raise $171,000 during our 25th anniversary year for Taking Technology to the Streets, which will include computer training and access for every student as well as adequate curriculum-based software to help our students learn the information gathering skills so critical in today’s economy. “Our ultimate goal is to prepare students for successful employment after graduation and to encourage them toward post-secondary education programs. With our Bovaird Foundation Scholarship Program, we are able to provide the means for post-secondary education to many young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity,” she said. Foundations already committed to the program are the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust, the John Steele Zink Foundation and Inasmuch Foundation. Proceeds from Street Party help provide operating funds for the school for teachers’ and counselors’ salaries, supplies and other direct benefits to the students. The event is the school’s only fund-raiser of the year and is one of the few unrestricted funding sources for the school. Nutter said “foundation and Street Party sponsors support have raised nearly $95,000 to date. We still must raise another $86,000. These funds will compliment Tulsa Public School’s commitment to technology at Street School. A United Way agency, Street School is also supported by Tulsa Public Schools, a variety of state agencies, individuals and its board of directors. For more information about tickets to the Street Party, corporate tables and sponsorships call the school at 834-4300 or visit the school’s website at www.streetschool.org. The website was developed by volunteers Paul Lindquist and eLiz (OK) Son.
Danna Sue Walker is a World staff writer.