WISE Foundation, the community fundraising organization that supports Warrenton-area education, celebrated a monumental success in the return of its annual fundraiser this year, selling out tickets …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
WISE Foundation, the community fundraising organization that supports Warrenton-area education, celebrated a monumental success in the return of its annual fundraiser this year, selling out tickets and collecting record-setting donations.
WISE’s annual Red and White dinner and auction made its comeback on April 2 at the Warrenton Elks Lodge, following two years of cancellations and alternate fundraising during the pandemic. WISE Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that raises money for student scholarships, school supplies and classroom programs. The Red and White fundraiser is the organization’s largest reoccurring source of revenue.
About 200 guests bought tickets for this year’s event, which WISE board member Carmen Schulze said was slightly scaled down to ensure a smooth return year.
Despite that slightly smaller turnout, Schulze said the fundraiser took in over $87,000 in gross receipts (before paying for certain costs of the event). That’s tens-of-thousands more than what the foundation took in during its last pre-COVID fundraiser in 2019, Schulze said.
“It’s wonderful. We were all so excited at the end of the night,” she said. “It was a sold-out event. The WISE members are so appreciative of the community and their support.”
The number and amount of scholarships given out each year can vary depending on the number of applicants and amount of funds available, Schulze said. The WISE Foundation has given out 90 scholarships since it began its fundraising mission.
“Last year we gave out $1,250 scholarships to 22 students ... even without a fundraiser. That’s why we really needed to do a fundraiser this year and ask for community support,” Schulze explained.
She said each of the scholarships is a one-time award to help a student get started in their post-secondary education.
“Next week we’re going through applications for scholarships, so the timing is perfect,” she commented.
Scholarship awards from WISE will be publicly announced at the Warrenton High School Awards Night on May 4.
During the oral auction portion of the Red and White event, getaway and event-day packages were hot commodities.
Although various memorabilia and home goods were on offer, Schulze said it was things like a stay at Lake of the Ozarks and a dinner package at Annie Gunn’s restaurant in Chesterfield that got the bidders especially excited.
This was also the first year that WISE used the online platform Bidpal to run a silent auction portion of the fundraiser. The platform allows bidders to participate remotely from their computers or phones, and also sends out electronic notifications whenever a silent bid has been topped. This introduced new immediacy and engagement to the silent auction, which ended up benefiting the fundraiser.
“I would say that we at least doubled the value of our silent auction. ... I think people got a little more competitive” Schulze commented. “We loved it. It was a great silent auction.”
