Foundation’s Chef Auction Raises Over $53,000 For Supporting Scholars Fund
Posted October 19, 2023 at 9:01 amThe Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Foundation, in partnership with the 1889 Foundation, held a successful Chef Auction at the Frank J. Pasquerilla Conference Center, raising over $53,000 for local students seeking a college education.
All of the money that was either brought in or donated will go towards the Supporting Scholars Fund at the College, as well as future scholarships in culinary arts at Penn Highlands. The Supporting Scholars Fund includes three distinct scholarships with multiple awardees each year: the Destination Graduation, Emerging Leader, and Presidential Scholarships.
The fundraising amount also marked the highest number ever recorded at a Penn Highlands Community College Foundation event.
“The night was a huge success,” stated Carole VanMeter, Director of the Foundation. “It was a great event from start to finish. Raising more money at this Chef Auction than we had in all of our previous events shows true dedication in finding ways to support our students.”
The event consisted of 17 silent auction items and 11 live auction items to bid on. Eight restaurants participated in providing dinner for more than 160 attendees, with some also supplying packages for the live auction. The 50/50 drawing winner donated their prize back to the Foundation.
Overall, more than $28,000 was raised, which was matched by a $25,000 donation by the 1889 Foundation to achieve the grand total.
“The 1889 Foundation couldn’t have identified a better organization to carry on the Chef Auction event,” stated Susan Mann, President of the 1889 Foundation. “Penn Highlands Community College’s mission and core values fit so well with why the Chef Auction was started, which was to support our community and our children. Our decision to match the proceeds from this year’s event up to $25,000, therefore, was an easy one. We congratulate them on a successful event and look forward to our continued work with them and their students in the future.”
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and Worklink Staffing served as Master Chef sponsors for the event, alongside seven Executive Chef sponsors and 16 Sous Chef sponsors.
“People loved the event because of the food and the goal we tried to achieve,” VanMeter stated. “If our community didn’t care about the work we do, they wouldn’t have helped us to the lengths they did. The support was overwhelming, and it’s clear they want our students to succeed just as much as we do.”
Plans are already in the works for next year’s Chef Auction.