OAKLAND -- Oakland Fund for the Arts is teaming up again with the Jack London Square destination Bocanova to raise cash for public school arts programs and celebrate the restaurant's birthday.

Since 2010, the Pan-American eatery's owners Richard Hackett and Meredith Melville have welcomed the arts organization's largest annual fundraiser as a celebration of their own commitment to the city.

"Meredith and Rick are both just such wonderful additions to the community," said Laurie Pitman, a longtime board member for Oakland Fund for the Arts.

"When they moved into Jack London Square, that is just what that neighborhood needed -- a place that could make a name for itself," Pitman said. "In addition to being famous and providing a great restaurant, they have given back over and over in the community."

Proceeds from the event equal half of the arts organization's annual budget. Tickets are $100 and include wine and appetizers on the restaurant's waterfront patio, as well as a full buffet dinner inside. There will also be a silent auction.

"This is our big one, this is the biggest thing we do annually," Pitman said of the organization that, since its founding in 1996, has granted $350,000 to more than 80 arts programs.

Alisa Peres, teacher for the Bilingual Choir at Manzanita SEED Elementary, an English and Spanish immersion school in the San Antonio neighborhood, said the arts organization's contribution is welcomed for her

The 40 or so children who participate in the choir learn, compose and perform songs in both languages.

"Any way we can support language learning is very helpful and singing is such a positive, effective way to do that," Peres said. "To have a choir that encourages both languages is very rich."