Cook County High School culinary arts students Ian Kurshner and Hallie Lamb made a strong case to attendants of the EATS fundraiser to stop and try some of their delicious chili. With a presentation like the one above, who could resist? Staff photo/Brian Larsen
It was a grand night, Thursday, March 14, as about 150 people gathered to enjoy an array of excellent food, a silent auction, and jovial atmosphere at the Enriching Academics Through Sustenance (EATS) fundraiser that began just inside of the hallway by the Eagle Doors at I.S.D. 166.
“We sold 120 tickets,” said a smiling Ann Sullivan, who was one of the event coordinators, adding that each vendor received two passes for their staff. “We had a record number of restaurants and food vendors providing food this year; usually we have ten, and this year we had 15!”
Participating restaurants were: Blue Water Café, Cascade Lodge and Restaurant, Cook County ISD 166 Culinary Arts, Cook County Whole Foods Co-op, Grand Portage Lodge and Casino, Gunflint Mercantile, Gunflint Lodge, Gunflint Tavern, Java Moose, Lutsen Resort, Poplar Haus, Raven Rock Grill at Skyport Lodge, Sven and Ole’s, Voyageur Brewing, and the Wunderbar.
Three other restaurants that were unable to attend, Bluefin Bay, the Crooked Spoon, and Hungry Hippie Tacos provided silent auction items, Sullivan said.
I.S.D. 166 culinary arts students Doran Acero and Jessica Maccudden prepare and plate desserts for the EATS fundraiser. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
A wide array of area businesses and individuals contributed to the silent auction. As people milled about, bidding on silent auction items or sampling food from area chefs, music was provided by the high school band and choir.
Volunteers who stepped up to make this a gracious, fun-filled evening were Myron Bursheim, Hal Greenwood, Dave Hanson, and Doug Sanders, who managed the ticket sales and front door. Maggie Friedrichs, Lorelei Livingston, Marcie McIntire, Karen Obinger, and Sharon Van Ruiswyk, and Ann Sullivan did most of the planning, organizing, and preparation for the event.
Jason Gesch, I.S.D. 166 culinary arts instructor, should receive special kudos, said Sullivan, “for coordinating his students, and assisting with vendors/restaurants who used our new kitchen, provided by the taxpayers, as they brought in their food.”
Once again the Cook County School 166 Education Foundation hosted EATS. Through the years the program has raised almost $141,000.
Formed in 1999, CCSDEF, a 501(c)(3) foundation, was created specifically with the goal of providing staff an avenue to seek funding for exceptional educational opportunities, which were unable to be funded by the school district. The only requirement to be a member of the Board of Directors is to be passionate about providing educational opportunities to ISD166 students.
Typically this event brings in anywhere from $5,300 to $8,700, but on March 19, not all of the funds had come in yet.
“We are still taking in money for silent auction items this week,” Sullivan said. “Some folks bid on items and left before the event ended. I’ve called all those who had a winning bid on either a gift certificate or an item in the silent auction.”
There are many activities funded through CCSDEF. Some of those are robotics, band, Concordia Language Camps, Knowledge Bowl, Middle School Exploratory Days, Inuit soapstone carving classes, timber framing at North House, and more.
Helping to set up and clean up were students from band, choir, robotics and clay club (all groups who had some benefit from grants from the Education Foundation). They helped set up tables, move the piano, stands, percussion equipment, run paper products to vendors and restaurants (all biodegradable) and cleaned up after the event.
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