Schools Plus founding member and longtime Santa Rosa High School English teacher John Bribiescas will be honored with the 2013 Spirit of Charles DeMeo Award at a gala fundraiser Sept. 7.

The event is sold out.

It is the first time the award will be given. The honor recognizes the recipient’s extraordinary commitment to the community, especially young people, organizers said.

Bribiescas, 65, who for 34 years served as Santa Rosa High’s English department chairman, is also a former member of the Chops teen center board of directors, and is a current board member for the youth cycling organization Team Swift.

The nonprofit group Schools Plus, now in its 22nd year, has raised more than $2 million for arts and music programs in Santa Rosa City Schools middle and high school campuses, according to backers. Bribiescas has been a board member of Schools Plus since its inception.

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