The Jefferson Clemente Foundation will host its third annual For the Love of Humanities fundraiser Feb. 16 to support the Jefferson Clemente Course in the Humanities.

For the Love of Humanities III: A Good Times Talent and Variety Show is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Chimacum Grange. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Arendt Speser, academic director of the Jefferson Clemente Foundation, said all proceeds will benefit the humanities course, which is currently running at Peninsula College in Fort Worden.

Nat Jacob, board president of the Jefferson Clement Foundation, said it’s a free college-level interdisciplinary course for low-income adults.

“It is designed to eliminate barriers for those who have not had access or opportunity to higher education,” Jacob said. “It provides instruction, books, school supplies and reimbursements for travel and childcare. There is no cost to students, who earn transferable college credit and learn critical-thinking skills that contribute to self-empowerment, personal enrichment and civic engagement.”

Speser promised performances by local talent in a variety of entertainment fields, from music and dance to comedy and more.

“We’re still putting the lineup together,” Speser said. “We’re not focusing so much on familiar names in terms of established acts as we are on community members, who people will know but perhaps might not know about their talents. For instance, Charlie from 1-2-3 Thai is going to play some ragtime piano. And we have a former Jefferson Clemente student and her daughter, a Chimacum High School student, who will perform together.”

“In particular, we have multiple single moms in the class, and we reimburse for both childcare and travel costs,” Speser said. “Childcare can be substantial, especially when multiple kids are involved. In the future, we hope to develop more of a formal childcare program during course hours, but for now, we pay for individual babysitters.”

Speser described the childcare reimbursement as “a huge deal” for the students, from whom he’s frequently heard it made it possible for them to attend and complete the course.

Speser said money from the fundraiser also would pay for instruction and instructional materials, such as books and other supplies.

“We only hire experienced faculty who have taught at the college level, and we pay competitive rates,” Speser said. “This is essential to the principles of the Clemente Course. People in poverty deserve the best quality education possible, as much as more privileged students.”

Tickets are available for $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door. Snacks and refreshments will be available for donation.

For more information, call 360-912-3874 or email jeffcoclemente@gmail.com.