Culver City Observer -

The Culver City Education Foundation kicked off its 40th anniversary year celebration with a successful "drive in" fundraiser on May 1 that raised $55,000.

More than 100 families watched a special screening of Steven Spielberg's classic film "E.T.," at a pop-up drive in movie theater held in a parking lot on the West Los Angeles College campus.

"Watching E.T. was a great way to celebrate our anniversary for many reasons including that one of the scenes in the movie was actually shot at Culver City High School," said Elaine Behnken, president of CCEF. "And the movie was filmed in 1981, the same year CCEF was founded."

"More important, we wanted families to share the joy and wonderment of E.T. in a safe environment, and the drive-in movie format was an absolutely perfect way for that to occur,"Behnken said.

Subaru Santa Monica was the event's lead sponsor, with Amazon Studios, Lincoln Property Company+Clarion Partners, and West Los Angeles College as Gold Level sponsors, in addition to other generous sponsors making the success of this event possible.

For the past 40 years, the foundation has supported visual and performing arts, science and technology needs as well as priority initiatives that serve over 7,000 students at every school in the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD).

Since its founding, CCEF has donated millions to CCUSD schools. CCEF continues to raise much-needed funds to maintain and grow programs, and seeks endowment and planned gifts to ensure long term support for programs that engage and inspire students.

Earlier this year, CCEF announced a $250,000 donation from Amazon Studios to renovate an outdoor learning space and play area for the main campus of the district's Office of Child Development.