When school budgets aren’t enough, the key to filling the gap is apparently through the stomach. Specialty foods and drinks seem to be all the rage as a way of raising money these days, and tasting events are high on the list of avenues to do that. It was about 10 years ago when members of the Ballston Spa Education Foundation (BSEF) realized the popularity of such gatherings and put together “A Taste of Ballston Spa.”
• What: Taste of Ballston Spa
• When: March 24, from 6-8 p.m.
• Where: HVCC TEC SMART Campus, 35 Hermes Road, Malta
• How much: $30 per person, $50 per couple
• Info: www.ballstonspaeducationfoundation.com
“The idea is to give a taste of each of the different restaurants,” said Ellen Mottola, BSEF secretary.
With the growing number of food establishments in the Village of Ballston Spa and nearby Malta, those looking for a good bite need not look far. The hardest part however is deciding which to try first, Mottola said.
BSEF has that covered with a wide range of samples from area restaurants all in one place.
“Each place has one or two entrees,” Mottola said. “They also bring menus.”
The event, which began as a small gathering in the town’s high school has now become an eagerly awaited event each year, and in recent years, has taken place at Malta’s TEC-SMART campus, the facility that houses the Clean Technologies and Sustainable Industries Early College High School.
“The original taste was held in the high school. Then we found that as nice as it was, you were sitting on cafeteria chairs,” Mottola said. “So we moved it off the high school site and have been holding it the last three years at TEC-SMART.”
With the move off of school grounds, the foundation was also able to add alcohol to the event, helping to create more of an “evening out” atmosphere rather than a school fundraiser.
“We now have wine and beer, and people like that. There is also a cash bar,” Mottola said. “The space is fantastic. It’s a big open area.”
Since its inception in 1996, the foundation has awarded more than $313,000 in grants for programs, projects, technology and classroom equipment for Ballston Spa students in grades K-12.
“What we fund is the icing on the cake … the stuff that would not be covered under a district budget. It really rewards thinking out of the box,” Mottola said.
In the past, the foundation has funded everything from a 3D printer at the high school for use in technology classes to a set of chessboards for a third-grade classroom teacher who wanted to teach strategy building.
“She went to a seminar and came back with a great idea for the classroom,” Mottola said. “We can’t fill too much of the gap, but with cuts, teachers are struggling just to make ends meet with general stuff, so we are able to help afford them the opportunity for projects they wouldn’t be able to get.”
The organization has also been instrumental in funding the district’s robotics team.
Mottola said the foundation is always looking for ways to raise money, but the community events tend to bring in the biggest support, especially the tasting event.
In the past, the group has organized golf tournaments and 5K runs.
“We found that when we were doing a 5K run, it started great but found it was kind of tailing off in terms of getting participants,” Mottola said. “The ‘Taste’ is the one that gives the best return.”
More than 14 restaurants will be participating in this year’s event, including 50 South, Ripe Tomato, Sunset Cafe, LaBella’s, Front Street Deli, Augie’s, Crystal Rock, Bear’s Cafe, Village Sweet Shoppe and Pellegrino Imports.
Mottola said Augie’s cannolis are always a hot commodity each year.
“The Italian places also do specialties, and people like that, but the desserts are always a big deal,” she said.
“A Taste of Ballston Spa” will take place on Monday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the HVCC TEC SMART Campus, 345 Hermes Road in Malta. Tickets for the event are $30 per person, $55 per couple, $10 for students and are available on the BSEF website, www.ballstonspa
educationfoundation.com, or checks can be mailed to BSEF “Taste of Ballston Spa”, PO Box 276, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Tickets will also be available at the door. A cash bar with wine and beer will be available. For more information, visit www.ballstonspaeducation
foundation.com.