The Suffolk Education Foundation’s 2011 school campaign raised $24,174.44, generating almost $4,000 more than last year, the foundation announced Tuesday.

Executive director of the Suffolk Education Foundation Mary Donny said she is excited about the results and pleased everyone in Suffolk Public Schools got involved in the campaign.

King’s Fork Middle School raised the most money for the foundation with about $1,500, Donny said. More than half of the schools raised more than or close to $1,000.

This year, the foundation set a fundraising target of $21,000.

“They didn’t just squeak past it,” Donny said. “They zoomed past it.”

The funds raised provide classroom grants, tuition assistance and college scholarships.

Thirty-six teachers volunteered as campaign liaisons and developed events for students and staff to participate in and help raise funds.

Some of the events included crazy hat day, an auction of the principal’s parking space and selling valentines. Teachers also had the option to take payroll deductions to donate to the fund.

“The campaigns can range from guessing the number of something to paying to hear your favorite music play in the cafeteria,” Donny said.

One of the most popular campaign events is a day designated for teachers to wear jeans for a donation, she said.

Donny said she hopes the campaign can be fun for everyone involved, especially the liaisons.

Most schools hold campaigns from the end of January through February, with some schools collecting funds during the first week of March.

The next step will be for the foundation to award those funds. Donny said a committee meets May 4 to review scholarship applications.

The scholarship recipients will be announced during the high schools’ senior award nights, Donny said.

Since it was founded in 1993, the Suffolk Education Foundation has provided more than $450,000 in classroom grants, tuition assistance and college scholarships.