JC's Dine & Bid funding goal: $100,000

Jamestown College has set a lofty goal of $100,000 for its 26th Dine & Bid event April 21, with every dollar going to student scholarships.

“The college awards $7.25 million in financial assistance a year. This helps to fund our scholarship program,” said Polly Peterson, vice president for institutional advancement at JC.

Karen Crane, director of annual progress fund and major gifts for JC, hoped for a crowd of 350 for the scholarship fundraiser. She emphasized that although previous attendees received invitations to the event, everyone in the community is invited.

The long-standing Dine & Bid tradition began with people in the Jamestown community, but as the event got larger and larger, responsibility for organizing it shifted somewhat to the college itself — which now helps coordinate the 200-plus volunteers who make the event possible.

Many of those volunteers are the students who have benefited from scholarships, who help with valet parking and even deliver auction items to people’s homes.

“The whole event is just a really nice blending of the community of Jamestown and the college community,” Crane said.

This year’s Dine & Bid event is called “An Enchanted Night of Knights,” and it will feature a dinner of grilled beef medallions with Yorkshire pudding or wild mushroom ravioli with roasted red pepper and fennel ragout. The meal will be prepared by Regional Executive Chef Paolo Stefani, who is based out of Chicago.

Dine & Bid includes both a silent and a live auction, with items donated by individuals and local businesses.

Items to be auctioned include gift certificates, tickets to various theaters, autographed books by North Dakota Poet Laureate Larry Woiwode, a “Death by Chocolate” gift basket, passes to Universal Studios theme parks, Minnesota Twins ticket packages and a weekend getaway to a log home in the Brainerd, Minn., area.

Then there are the more unusual items, such as a bench made in the image of Jamestown College’s Voorhees Chapel, a neon sign with the Jimmie Knight on it, a catered tailgate party for next year’s JC homecoming football game and the front door to the former president’s house.

At the end of the evening, people can even bid on scholarships, and anyone who offers $500 or more can name a scholarship for themselves or in honor of a loved one.

Casey Stoudt will be the emcee and More from Orr will provide auctioneering for the event. A black and white diamond bracelet and a grill will be given away in a raffle.

The past 25 Dine & Bid events have raised a total of $1.1 million in scholarship money for students, Peterson said.

Scholarships are a priority for Jamestown College because in order for enrollment to be sustained or grow, college has to remain affordable, Peterson said.

The scholarships paid for by the event are given to students in academics and the arts as well as sports.

“We’re fortunate… our goal keeps getting bigger, and people keep rising to the occasion,” Crane said.

“An Enchanted Night of Knights” begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m.

People should RSVP as soon as possible by emailing alumni@jc.edu or calling 252-3467, ext. 5512.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: community, education, benefit