Cellarbration! for Education
A festive evening filled with delectable food, local wine, and a lot of fun!
For Goodness Sake Food & DrinkSATURDAY, MAY 19
ATEC Bldg at Big Bend Community College, Moses Lake
In the beginning, Big Bend Community College Foundation organizers were unsure how fruitful a black tie optional, $100 per plate dinner would be accepted as a fundraiser for Big Bend Community College. The event was the first of its kind and boasted an upscale meal paired with regional wines and afford locals the opportunity to get dressed to the nines!
Although a bit hesitant, the BBCC Foundation’s Board of Directors green lit the very first “Gourmet Wine & Dinner Auction” in 2002 hosted at the Moses Lake Golf & Country Club. As the evening drew to a close, $25,500 were raised and earmarked to help ease the burden for local students in getting an education.
Now known as Cellarbration! for Education, the annual event has raised more than $1 million dollars for student scholarships and is highly-anticipated each spring for the promise of an exquisite adventure in food, wine, friendship, and community.
“This is truly a community event, and we have so many people who come together to make it happen each year,” said Executive Director of the BBCC Foundation, LeAnne Parton. “Our goal is to make this an amazing wine and food experience and in doing so raise money to help support the growth and development of our community by providing scholarships that make education available to those who might otherwise not be able to afford it.”
Each year a committee, including the duo who bid on the privilege during the auction the year before, decides on the menu for the event. This year, Don & Doreen McGraw won the “Wine & Dinner pairing for Cellarbration!” and Doreen was joined by Becky Thomas to take part in pairing and selection.
John Allen, owner of Vino! A Wine Shop in Spokane will be leading the wine and food pairing this year. “For the meal, the wine, the service, and the décor — the event is an amazing value,” said Allen. “If you went anywhere else, it would cost you a lot more.”
The bottles were covered to ensure a blind tasting and Executive Chef Josh McQueen of University of Idaho spent three hours with the group who matched each of his dinner courses, including a new vegetarian offering with an appropriate local wine.
The Foundation Scholarship Fund currently provides scholarships for at least one graduating senior from each of the 21 high schools that are located within Big Bend’s service district (larger schools have more than one). The fund also provides educational opportunities for students returning to school and for those specifically enrolled in professional and technical programs.
The Cellarbration! for Education event also raises money for a special fund that is used to help BBCC students that are in good standing deal with financial emergencies that can arise during the semester as an alternative to dropping out of school.
For more information about Cellarbration!, to learn how you can become a sponsor for this year’s event, or to purchase tickets, please call the Big Bend Community College Foundation at (509) 793-2006.
Tickets may also be purchased online at www.bigbend.edu/information-center/foundation/events/registration/ .
Visit http://bigbend.edu
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