More than 200 people attended the 11th annual President’s Gala on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Ozaukee Pavilion at the Ozaukee County Fairgrounds and the results were impressive. About $70,000 was raised to support the Foundation’s mission to provide private funding for projects and programs that enhance the quality of life in the greater Cedarburg community.

The fundraising event featured a “Beats & Brushwork” performance by Artist Shelby Keefe, music by the Di Cristo Quartet, a buffet dinner catered by Out & Out and a verbal and silent auction.

“This was exactly the kind of evening I had hoped for … good company, good food, good entertainment and a great reason to come together,” said Foundation President Joe Fazio. “I was thrilled to see so many people come out and support the Foundation and the good work that we do.”

Award-winning impressionistic painter Shelby Keefe was a highlight of the evening. She spontaneously created an oil painting of a Cedarburg landscape using her own lively musical compositions as guests watched. The painting became part of the live auction later that night and sold for $2,700.  Another painting by Keefe of the Rivoli Theatre in downtown Cedarburg was specially commissioned for the event and brought in a high bid of $5,500.

Other verbal auction items included a picnic dinner for eight at Summer Sounds 2017, a 30 by 40 inch blowup of a snowy scene of downtown Cedarburg from the Harold Dobberpuhl photo collection, a 5-course dinner for eight at Shully’s in Thiensville including round-trip limousine services, a party for 50 people with food provided by YellowBellies Food Truck, a girl’s night out “jewelry dress up” party at Dorothy Gallun Fine Jewelry with food catered by Out & Out and a sock hop party for 12 people at the home of Bruce and Shirley Krenzke. Another 25 items were included in the silent auction.

A brief video, produced by NolanVision, showcased some of the projects that the Foundation has helped to fund.  It introduced a reverse auction that brought the evening to a very successful close.

Signature sponsors of the Community Gala included Funjet Vacations, music sponsor; Answerport, dessert sponsor; Commerce State Bank, entertainment sponsor; Partnership Bank, decorations sponsor; and Port Washington State Bank, verbal auction sponsor.  Patron sponsors were BMO Harris Bank, Bella Lei Salon Spa & Boutique, Bank Mutual, Carlson Tool & Mfg. Corp., GHL International, Husch Blackwell, Levy & Levy Attorneys at Law, Piggly Wiggly, Sargento Foods, TSR Solutions and US Bank.

Click on the image above to see photos from Community Gala

Photos courtesy of Ozaukee County News Graphic: Art Dahlke, photographer

Dessert Sponsor
Answerport Logo
Music Sponsor
Funjet Logo
Entertainment Sponsor
Commerce State Bank Logo
Verbal Auction Sponsor
Port Washington State Bank Logo
Decoration Sponsor
Partnership Bank Logo