Third Annual Spill the Tea High-Tea Connects Women Leaders, Fresno Unified Students

The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students will host its third annual Spill the Tea high‑tea fundraiser at The Palomino Event Center in Fresno from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, under the theme "Stir the Pot. Hold the Sugar." The event is positioned as an energizing high tea honoring International Women’s Month that aims to connect Fresno Unified students with local women leaders while raising funds for student support.

Panelists scheduled to appear include Rickie Dhillon, superintendent and CFO of Kepler Neighborhood School; Officer Lindsay Dozier of the Fresno Police Department Community Relations Unit; pediatrician and children’s author Veronica Ramirez; and Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea, District 1. The program format is an elegant high tea with a moderated panel discussion in which Fresno Unified students will join the panelists for an open conversation between youth leaders and seasoned professionals, and guests will have opportunities to connect with the panel.

Linda Laettner, executive officer of The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students, framed the event’s mission in the organization’s materials: "Spill the Tea brings together generations of women to spark honest conversation, mentorship and possibility." Foundation copy describes panelists as coming from a range of professional backgrounds and as not afraid to challenge the status quo, with a stated aim to "inspire dialogue around leadership, resilience and challenging the status quo."

Rickie Dhillon’s biography supplied by the Foundation details multiple board roles and community leadership positions: she serves on a Rotary Board; is board treasurer for the California Teaching Fellows Foundation; sits on the UC Riverside Women in Leadership Board; holds a position on the CASBO Central Section Board; and is board secretary for the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). The Foundation’s event materials repeat Dhillon’s biography in two near‑identical paragraphs, both highlighting her engagement in community and professional leadership and her role in providing actionable insights into organizational transformation.

Fresno Unified Superintendent Misty Her offered an endorsement of the event in the Foundation materials: "I love that Spill the Tea showcases not only exemplary female leaders from across our community, but also the leaders of the future — our Fresno Unified students. I look forward to a thought-provoking afternoon that unites women across generations, perspectives and professions." The Foundation’s description emphasizes candid, courageous dialogue guided by the "Stir the Pot. Hold the Sugar." theme.

The Foundation’s event page references in‑depth biographies and photo assets but does not include ticket prices, registration links, the Palomino Event Center street address, the names of student panelists, or specified fundraising beneficiaries in the materials provided. Organizers supplied an image asset label referenced as "ANYA SITE PHOTO 1" in the event materials. Attendees should confirm registration, pricing and accessibility details directly with The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students prior to the March 14 event.