The Marin Journal reports on a sizeable donation to the George Lucas Educational Fund this weekend at a big event to honor Lucas:

Marin filmmaker George Lucas' longstanding efforts to inject innovation, multimedia technology and creativity in America's public schools got a boost this weekend from the nation's corporate sector.

Tiffany & Co., the New York-based retailer of high-end jewelry, crystal, china and other items, announced a donation to the 11-year-old George Lucas Educational Foundation at a private soiree Friday night for more than 100 Tiffany customers and foundation board members at Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in Nicasio.

"It's very important to me to get some support for our educational endeavors from the business community," said Lucas, in accepting the donation from Michael Kowalski, Tiffany's chief executive and president.

"We've spent almost 20 years trying to facilitate the use of technology in schools in an innovative way," Lucas added. "It's a grassroots effort - we just provide the swords for warriors that go out to make changes - so we can always use the help. We appreciate it."

Kowalski, calling the San Anselmo resident "one of the world's greatest filmmakers who established a new standard for excellence," also handed Lucas a Tiffany Mark watch, one of a new line of upscale timepieces just introduced by the company.