I couldn’t help but get caught up in Susan Kingsbury-Comeau’s passion when, in the wake of the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation’s annual fundraiser luncheon, the vice president and luncheon chairwoman shared with me how the group blew through its donation goal, again, netting a whopping $88,000 take.

What helped take it over the top were two big donations totaling $30,000, from Microsoft and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. While local donors and businesses helped get the foundation there, big players like the Tribe and Microsoft make a commensurate impact. Microsoft’s funding, in particular, is meaningful, as it puts employees into classrooms for real-life computer training. That means kids get straight talk about careers from people who are already in the field.

When I asked Susan whether she sees what the foundation does as providing the basics or providing enrichment, she says it’s enrichment. State education funding is still in crisis. It’s true that the local schools foundation could pay for things like mops and buckets, supplies and salaries. But this group would rather pay for the things that make education meaningful. Can’t say I’d blame or begrudge them. If you were a donor, where would you rather see your money spent?

Susan’s got big dreams. The biggest: quadrupling the Schools Foundation’s donations over the next five years. It’s a lofty goal, certainly, but optimism can be contagious. According to ‘Best of the Valley’ best volunteer Nels Melgaard, all you need to do is give people the chance to help, and they’ll step up. Kingsbury-Comeau sees that happening. As more people see what we can do, we’ll reach a tipping point. Won’t that be something to see?

• You can learn more about the Snoqualmie Valley Schools Foundation at www.svsfoundation.org.