Chippewa Valley Foundation Readies for Second Taste-Fest and Auction

Hundreds turned out to support the Chippewa Valley Educational Foundation’s in 2011, and organizers are hoping they can repeat that success by making the event an annual affair this year.

"We weren’t sure what to expect with that first event, but we got such good feedback, from the board and people who were there, that we hope to continue," said Rene Ruhlman, foundation president.

With that feedback in mind, CVEF plans to host its second “A Taste for Education” on March 22 at Zuccaro Banquets and Catering in Chesterfield Township.

A combination taste-fest and auction, the event will feature entrée tasting stations for more than a dozen Macomb area restaurants, including Brio Tuscan Grille, and Cheli’s Chili Bar, and offer guests the opportunity to bid on a variety of live and silent auction items throughout the night.

Auction items range from basic prizes such as Detroit sports tickets, golf outings and spa packages, to unique offerings such as a complete Invisalign treatment from Kennet Orthodontics, a private cruise with the Macomb County Marine Division and power lunches with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel and Chippewa Valley Schools Superintendent Ron Roberts.

Tickets for this year’s event are $40 each and proceeds benefit the foundation–a nonprofit organization created to raise funds and develop partnerships in the community that benefit Chippewa Valley students.

“(Much of the proceeds) are used to fund our teacher mini-grants program,” Ruhlman said. “We annually go out to teachers at all levels and ask them to submit grants for innovative ideas–things they’d like to see in their classrooms that are not covered by traditional funding. Money from this event is funneled directly back into the classrooms.”

This year, the foundation awarded some $18,000 in grants, which in turn funded more than 29 projects throughout the district.

These projects included purchasing Lego Robotic kits, mural supplies for art classes, magnetic devices for physics exploration, Ukuleles for music classes, interactive math and reading games for the district’s Smartboards, compost containers for life/earth science classes and e-book collections for e-readers, among other items.

The foundation was also able to sponsor a visiting author presentation for all 12 elementary schools and provide funding to help offset the cost of travel for Chippewa Valley and students to attend a Student Leadership Conference in Traverse City.

Ruhlman said it is her hope that the proceeds from this year's taste-fest and auction allow the foundation to continue funding such projects next year.

"We really try to keep in mind the economy (with ticket prices)," Ruhlman said. "The people we are trying to reach are the parents, teachers and community members who want to come out and support the schools. We have some great high-caliber restaurants coming out to support us and it's a great opportunity to meet others who are interested in supporting Chippewa Valley Schools."

Ruhlman said dress is "anything goes" and all community members are invited to attend.

The event begins at 6 p.m. on March 22.

Tickets can be purchased by calling the district's community office at 586-723-2240.