Community rallies to support high school

GATHERING FOR A CAUSE: Members of the community will hold a banquet and auction Aug. 15 to help benefit the La Grande High sports and activities programs. Observer file photo

After two months of work, that thought will come to fruition at the Blue Mountain Conference Center Aug. 15.

The event is a dinner and auction to raise money for the La Grande High School athletics and activities. Oregon National Guard 3rd Battalion 116th Cavalry has stepped in to help sponsor the event.

“It’s all for the kids.”

The committee has been meeting every Tuesday since the initial meeting between the booster club and the community.

The goal is to raise at least $75,000 to help fund athletics and activities this school year. As of July 13, the booster club had raised $31,025.

Initially there were 250 tickets available for the dinner and auction. Now 55 tickets remain from a sell-out.

Prices for the event are: single dinner for $30, single sponsor for $90, couples dinner for $50 and couples sponsor for $150.

Grande Cuisine is catering the event with the option of a chicken or prime rib dinner.

“We’re pretty sure that we’ll be able to sell them all,” Dowdy said. “Some businesses are buying whole tables, that’s $600.

“The community is really getting behind the event. They are the ones coming up with the items for the auction.”

Dowdy’s list started small, but has snowballed into more than 200 items.

Raffle and auction items include: sporting event tickets, sports equipment, athletic apparel, vacation packages, autographed merchandise, art work, bronzes, guns, jewelry, rodeo tickets, golf packages, certificates, baskets and a lot more.

The other important item for bid will be the sports teams and activity groups. People will be able to bid on different students for odd jobs.

“It’s a great way to get the kids more involved,” Dowdy said. “They’re going to be helping serve dinner too. But this will show they’re willing to give a little more.”

The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.  Following the dinner there will be silent and live auctions and a general raffle.

“It’s going to be a great time for a good cause,” Dowdy said. “I hope that everyone is going to have a good time. They should. There’s been a lot of thought and effort put into this event. Everyone that’s contributed has done an excellent job.”

Call Dowdy at 963-2950 or 541-663-3307 to make a donation or reserve a table.