There was another sign this week of just how much Renton residents and its  business community support Renton’s schools and students.

Nearly $190,000 was raised in this year’s annual Friends of Renton Schools benefit breakfast and the fundraising leading up to it.

Thanks at the breakfast appropriately went to Bob Bridge, who was called Renton schools’  “best friend.” That is without doubt.  But he’s always ready to heap praise on others, including his competition, Renton’s other community-spirited car dealers.

Besides raising money for Renton’s schools, the breakfast itself  is becoming a learning experience. Bill Gates Sr. spoke at the first breakfast and last year, it was Sally Jewell, president and CEO of REI.

This year’s crowd of 300-plus listened to former NASA astronaut Bonnie Dunbar, who flew in space five times and was the director of the Museum of Flight. She now works  as director of Higher Education and STEM for the Boeing Co.

That Boeing position gives her a pulpit to talk about the importance of getting a strong science and math background in school. It’s a message that’s so important to Renton, as Boeing turns to Renton Technical College and other colleges for the next generation of engineers and technical workers.

And, yes, the background includes algebra. And, yes, that future includes our daughters who are learning to become engineers, technicians and even astronauts. It never occurred to Dunbar that being a woman was an impediment to her dream of flying in space.

But, of course,  the battle to fully fund our schools never ends. The Friends of Renton Schools will continue to raise money in the future and those efforts deserve our support.

Those efforts are already paying off. Once-struggling students and schools are showing achievement in critical areas such as reading and math, with the help of support programs funded by Friends of Renton Schools.

So when thanks are to be given, the list should include all the VOLUNTEERS who make up the Friends of Renton Schools, including School Board member Pam Teal.

They exemplify what can happen when problems are attacked positively, rather than pointing fingers of blame at the system.