Friday night local chefs and "celebrities" will help raise funds for Combined Community Services at the silver anniversary edition of the Crazy Waiter Dinner and Auction. It is the second year for the "Dancing Under The Stars" portion of the event.
"Unemployment in Kosciusko County is at 11 percent and we are seeing more people than ever in our 25-year history," said Lewis Jones, CCS executive director. "CCS served about 3,000 families or almost 10,000 people in 2008. That is about 13 percent of the entire Kosciusko County population. We know that Kosciusko County is a giving community and we hope this event brings out our true giving spirit at a time we need it most."This year's co-executive chefs are Dane Miller and Steve Miller, and each course of the meal will be prepared by a different local chef.
Scott Howell from Fusion will prepare a bruschette appetizer, while Mark Guerra will prepare a beef satay appetizer with beef provided by Eagle Creek.
Dane Miller will prepare duck gumbo with duck provided by Maple Leaf Farms, and Scott Woods from Noa Noa will serve a Hawaiian Luau Salad.
The entree will be chicken paired with a caper and fresh dill cream prepared by Caleb France of Cerulean. Bogey's April O'Neill and Greg Treesh will provide horseradish smashed potatoes, while Russ Veach of Stonehenge Golf Club will prepare homestyle green beans.
Assorted breads will be presented by 1000 Park Bakery.
Dessert will be cheesecake provided by Rockhill Pinnick with a caramel sauce and granny smith apples prepared by Dane Miller.
The event is planned for 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, and space is limited. For more information, call 574-269-6019 ext. 32 or e-mail ljones@combinedcommunityservices.org
Dancers for this year's event are defending champions David and Natalie Brown, representing Biomet, Combined Community Services, Kosciusko Community Hospital and Tri-Kappa; Steve Grossnickle and Kathy Nate, representing Grossnickle Eye Center and Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery; and Kelly Britton and Wendy Warnick, representing Giverny Exercise Studio. Ray and Barb Gsell and Jack and Retha Hicks helped train this year's dancers for the event.
Votes are $5 each, and people may vote even if they do not attend Friday's dinner. Those who wish to donate without attending dinner or voting for a dancing couple may simply send their donation to Combined Community Services.
Each couple will perform a different dance, and their instructors will perform exhibition dances as well.
Items in the silent auction include gift certificates, art and electronic items.
Live auction items include:
n A four to seven day stay at Dane and Mary Louise Miller's bay front townhome in Marco Island, Fla. The home accommodates up to six people. This item also includes a sunset cruise on their luxury yacht with captain and crew. Transportation to Marco Island not included. Mutually agreeable dates will be arranged by the donor and purchaser.
n A week stay in a condo in Costa Rica donated by Jack and Retha Hicks. Transportation not included. Mutually agreeable dates to be arranged by the donor and purchaser.
n Four tickets to the Jimmy Buffett concert Aug. 11 at the Verizon Wireless Music Center in Indianapolis. The tickets are great seats and include transportation to and from the concert and dinner.
There also will be a "Fund-a-Need" Auction to help with the increasing needs in Kosciusko County. Successful "bidders" in the "Fund-a-Need" auction will get either soup or caramel sauce made by Dane Miller, while supplies last.
A champagne toast to celebrate the eventºs 25th year also is in the works.
All funds raised from the event go to CCS for program such as the Hand Up Program and Project Independence that help people in the community. CCS also helps people with pro bono legal assistance, finding jobs and with temporary emergency needs.
CCS is a non-profit, Christian faith-based organization founded in 1984 by Kosciusko Community Churches. Its programs help people become self-sufficient and lessen the need for public or private assistance.
