On Saturday, Kosciusko Senior Services hosted an inaugural dinner fundraiser for an evening of music, merriment and philanthropy.
The centerpiece of this fundraiser was a Dueling Pianos performance, brought to life by PianoWars.com and their entertainment director, Dave Caruso, who also took to the keys, according to a news release from Kosciusko Senior Services.
The evening had music, with sing-alongs, impromptu dance-offs and crowd engagement. Guests participated in a display of support through the tip jar, with Wildman Uniform Company gmatching contributions. An silent auction featured over 40 items donated by local businesses and community members. Items ranged from dinners in Kosciusko County to outdoor umbrellas, botox treatments from Hollar Dentists, Weathertech floor mats from Toyota of Warsaw, restaurant gift cards, sports tickets, quilts and an array of delightful surprises.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to make tax-deductible donations while securing exciting vacation packages. The night's master of ceremonies was Jeff Owens, a local realtor.
The night's special guest, Normandy veteran Charlie Garner, at 100 years old, shared testimony of how Senior Services has positively impacted his life. David Neff, executive director of Kosciusko Senior Services, introduced Garner and extended appreciation to the senior services board of directors, for their roles in crafting this extraordinary event, according to the release.
Sponsors were Wildman Uniform Group, Maple Leaf Farms, Alderfer Bergen and the Bowen Center. The event was at The Owl’s Nest.
Scott Clay, RQAW Engineering, and Ashley Dillon, Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber executive director, both board members, were recognized for their contributions to table filling and event organization.
Clay said, "It's important to stay as involved in your community as you're able to. I want to give a huge thank you to all of our guests who came out to support our county's senior citizens who need help with transportation, home delivered meals and providing a place of companionship for our seniors.”
The event saw over 20 tables filled and over 170 guests in attendance, demonstrating the strong community support for Kosciusko Senior Services. The total amount raised during this evening was an impressive $37,478.
Neff said, "We are overwhelmed by the incredible success of our inaugural fundraiser and the tremendous support we received from our sponsors and the community. This event has set the stage for future initiatives to benefit our seniors, and we are deeply grateful to all who made it possible."
The Kosciusko Community Foundation provided Senior Services with the initial funding to create the framework for its ongoing fundraising campaign. While the first set of funds went into building this foundation, more money was needed to spread our message effectively within the community. Due to the fundraiser, they can now guarantee that they have the extra resources necessary to both communicate they message and ensure the annual continuation of this event, stated the release.
For information about Kosciusko Senior Services and upcoming events, visit www.kosciuskoseniorservices.org or contact 574-267-2012.