Newport Beach families can register for the annual State of the Schools Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Newport Harbor High School gymnasium, 600 Irvine Ave.

The event, co-hosted by Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation (NMSF), runs from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and carries a suggested donation of $33 per person. Space is limited. RSVPs are required through the district's invitation page.

Proceeds go to the foundation's Grants for Teachers program, which puts about $100,000 a year directly into classroom projects across the district, according to the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation. The program has run for more than 45 years and reaches more than 3,000 students annually.

In May 2025, the foundation awarded $107,000 in grants to 54 individual teachers, six grade-level teams and four school departments, with individual awards ranging from $800 to $5,000, according to a district news release.

Last year's breakfast, held Oct. 28, 2025, at Estancia High School, raised $60,000 for the program, according to a district recap. NMSF President Vicki Snell recognized sponsors at that event.

Board of Education President Krista Weigand welcomed guests, and Superintendent Wesley Smith delivered the keynote. Smith highlighted a 97% graduation rate and noted that NMUSD students performed above county and state averages in English language arts, math and science.

At last year's breakfast, Smith said the district's work centers on the belief "that every child deserves to be seen, heard, supported, and safe, because that's when they truly thrive."

The breakfast rotates among the district's four high schools. The 2023 event at Costa Mesa High drew 250 attendees and raised more than $51,000.

This year's event also falls during NMUSD's 60th anniversary celebration, marking the district's founding in 1966. The district serves nearly 18,000 students.

RSVPs are open through the district website, and community members interested in sponsorship can contact Snell at the foundation.