Hospital Foundation dinner, auction scheduled Jan. 24

Whitman Community Hospital Foundation board members and auction committee members are preparing items for auction at their annual dinner, An Elegant Evening, on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Hill-Ray Plaza. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7.

The gourmet dinner this year features prime rib of beef and chocolate cassis cake with fresh raspberries, with accompanying hors d’oeuvres, salad and sides. Wines and sparkling ciders are included. Butch Booker is the auctioneer, and there will be silent auction items as well as the live auction.

An Elegant Evening is the Foundation’s annual major fund-raiser each year. The Foundation is building an endowment to support the hospital in times of crisis, with plans to provide an income stream to the hospital when the endowment reaches ten million dollars.

At present, the endowment is over four million dollars, and the Foundation has a policy of making available a percentage of the income when the hospital board requests help. The last major gift from the Foundation was $200,000 to ensure that the rehabilitation department would be finished inside the new hospital building several years ago.

Sports fans have a number of opportunities for interesting items. WSU President Elson Floyd has graciously donated football tickets for two in luxury suite seating at Washington State University this coming fall. Tickets include parking nearby, food, box seating with a great view and often some Cougar swag. This game day experience is the ultimate.

Are you tired of the same old Halloween? Dress up and go to the Cougar game instead! Two tickets to watch the Cougars in Martin Stadium outside on Oct. 31, 2015, thanks to the Cougar Athletic Department.

For Zag fans, there are two tickets to the Gonzaga men’s basketball game versus Brigham Young University at the Kennel in Spokane on Feb. 28, 2015. Julianne and Paul Sullivan are the generous donors. NCAA women’s Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds will be playing in the Veterans’ Arena in Spokane this March, and two tickets are available for auction.

If your interest is in the arts, you will enjoy tickets for four and reserved parking next November for Cary Cammack’s musical production at Colfax High School. For fans of Regional Theater of the Palouse, two tickets to “Little Shop of Horrors” in February and two adult and two children’s tickets to “Mary Poppins” will be auctioned.

Palouse Chorale tickets to their spring concert will be available, as well as tickets to the Washington-Idaho Symphony. Both are local organizations producing amazing music with talent here on the Palouse. The chorale and symphony present concerts in several local venues, including University of Idaho Administration Building Auditorium, Hampton School of Music Auditorium, Clarkston High School, Daggy Hall at WSU, and occasionally at local churches.

A popular team, Jon and Li Ochs with Dawn Bennett, are joining to offer two of Dawn’s wonderful massages with lavender oils produced at the Ochs’ Eurkea Farms. Whitman Hospital and Medical Center employees have assembled a gift basket. Several estate items and children’s items will be auctioned, including memorabilia from the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, and a set of pearl earrings and ring.

For truly practical buyers, Justin Morgan will deliver two loads of crushed rock, or one might like 100 bushels of wheat, donated by Wes and Jen Claassen. For proms, weddings, and other special events, Jen Claassen and Robyn Erickson have teamed up to do a special event hairdo and makeup. Jones Truck and Implement is donating a child’s battery-operated tractor with matching wagon for the little person in your life.

Bryan Jones is donating two bushels of his delicious Penawawa peaches to be picked up or delivered next summer. The Michelangelo of Colfax home painting, Terry Asbjornsen, is donating eight hours of painting, and Jerene Shenefelt is giving four hours of cleaning. Buyers often like these two services paired.

For local dining, Sol Vallarta in Colfax has donated dinner for two. Leo and Terri Haas of Snake River Bar and Grill at Boyer Park have donated a gift certificate for meals at their restaurant. Peg Curtis, St. John caterer, will host four people for dinner at her home. Mark and Robyn Johnson will host eight people at their home for an authentic Italian dinner. They brought home a table and took a cooking lesson last summer to add to the fun.

For those who enjoy the visual arts, Rob Smith of Whitman Hospital and Medical Center has donated one of his paintings, and Fran Aguilar has given one of his Palouse area photographs. Carla Danielson of Hooper Crossing has donated a framed print of her photograph of silver Garcia spurs. Jill Pierson, well-known area quilter, has made a WSU-inspired quilt.

For a little drive, there are other enticing items. Whitman Medical Group has donated the Marcus Whitman Hotel chef’s special dinner, with gourmet food and fabulous Walla Walla vineyard wine pairings and a night at the hotel. Clearwater River Casino near Lewiston is giving one night’s stay with a gift certificate for meals.

Parents of seniors love the graduation package, with thanks to Buck Marsh and Colfax High School. The lucky bidder has reserved seating for up to twenty people with four reserved parking spaces.

Also featured again is the popular purse game organized by Butch Booker. Purses with unknown amounts of cash in them are auctioned, with more fun by Butch. Other items will be announced as they are confirmed.

With interesting and exciting auction items, festive atmosphere, and delicious food, wine, and non-alcoholic ciders, the dinner and auction promise an elegant evening. To attend, call Kathryn Vogler at 509-549-3470 or Kimberly DeHart at 397-3435 x400 or wchfoundation@gmail.com, or email Linda Marler at mlmarler@q.com.

Admission is $80 per person in advance, which includes a donation in addition to the cost of dinner. Payment may be made by check or credit card. Dress ranges from Sunday church dress to evening gowns--wear what you enjoy and enjoy the fun!