Who would have thought you could dig into chicken and biscuits from the Millstone Lodge, savor Augie’s creamy cannolis, and chow down on pumpkin bisque from The Good Times Lakeview Restaurant, all for a good cause?
Here’s your chance to stuff yourself silly at the Taste of Burnt Hills fundraiser Oct. 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School cafeteria. For the palatable price of $25, guests can nibble their way through a variety of food stations from 11 local restaurants, pubs and buffets.
Money raised at the mouth-watering evening will benefit The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Education Foundation, a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization with a mission to provide seed money for school projects that fall outside the school budget. Since its inception in 2000, the foundation has awarded nearly 50 grants for everything from scientific calculators to computer hard drives to a mini theater in the district’s High School Blue Room.
Chew on this fact for a moment: The foundation has distributed more than $40,000 since it began as a grassroots effort.
All our grant allocations serve to enhance education, said foundation president Dorie McArthur. `We took a look at all the programs and equipment being cut year after year from school budgets and knew we had to do all we could to fill in the gaps.`
Be prepared to unloosen your belt a notch or two at the dining event: The restaurants will offer up their seasonal specialties followed by coffee and Marcella’s ice creams, including McArthur’s personal favorite, Panda Paws.
`We end up with everything from soup to nuts,` said McArthur, who hopes to raise $5,000 during the event.
To add to the festive ambiance, music will be provided by the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School Strings and the Burnt Hills Community Melody Makers. The Petal Pusher floral shop will provide flowers for centerpieces.
`The cafeteria is transformed into a fine dining atmosphere for the night,` said McArthur. `We even dim the lights.`
The group’s sixth annual dining extravaganza represents one of the major fundraisers for the year. Other fundraising events include annual community gatherings and parties, and the sale of engraved bricks in the Senior High School courtyard. The price of each brick ranges from $50 – $200. The foundation is now offering sets of note cards by a local artist depicting each district school building. A box of cards is $5.
The foundation also manages charitable contributions and endowments from generous community members and alumni. Tax-deductible donations can be targeted toward certain areas, within parameters set by the foundation. Funds can be made to honor friends or loved ones, or to support school programs such as sports, music, libraries or technology.
`My favorite grant was to purchase a freezer in the new science wing to store fresh frozen specimens and supplies for biology labs,` said McArthur. `The teachers didn’t want to deal with the Formaldehyde anymore.`
McArthur said she continues to be surprised and inspired by the commitment she sees from community members who come forward to support their cause.
`All we have to do is ask and they say, `yes,’` said McArthur. `These are restaurant owners themselves who come out for hours and serve people. We just can’t thank them enough.`
The group’s work benefits not only the students, but the teachers as well.
`We want kids to have the best supplies, but we also want to make work exciting for teachers,` said McArthur. `So many teachers pay out of their own pockets for supplies, and that just can’t keep happening.`
Reservations should be made early for the Taste of Burnt Hills event ` last year it filled the cafeteria to full capacity of 200.
Tickets for the Taste of Burnt Hills are $25 per person, and are available at the door, but reservations are requested ahead of time by calling McArthur at 399-9050. For information on The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Education Foundation or ways to contribute, log on to www.bhblef.org. “