Gala for the Grove

On Wednesday, May 26, the owners of the Mountain Inn in Lutsen, Teri Chilefone and James Coleman, presented a check to Birch Grove Community school. Several members of the school helped celebrate the gift and are pictured here with big smiles! Staff photo Rob Perez

The Gala for the Grove, the tenth annual auction/fundraiser to support Birch Grove is back, launching entirely online in a safety-first form from June 5-12. “It’s my favorite fundraising event,” says Director Diane Blanchette, Birch Grove Community School. “I always leave with a sense of community that renews my resolve to keep our small school going strong.”

Proceeds from the Gala support a wide range of school activities: The K-5 elementary program; hot lunch; community service; summer programs; and (my personal favorite) Saplings.

There are a wide variety of offerings: locally made Maple syrup; hand-painted art by Mary LeBarge; adventure gear from Sawtooth Outfitters; inland and Superior fishing charters; a two-night stay at Bluefin Bay; and online subscriptions to the Cook County News Herald.

The big-ticket items are two exciting getaways to Mexico, one for seven nights and one for four. ¡Viva Mexico!

Also, after years of going without, there are rumors that a new style of Birch Grove t-shirt will be unveiled and available for purchase, but you have to see for yourself if that’s true.

Birch Grove school is adorned with art inside and outside. The award-winning school is having its biggest fundraiser of the year soon with prizes that include two exciting getaways to Mexico and Lake Superior fishing charters, among other things. Staff photo Rob Perez

You can find the Gala for the Grove here: www.charityauctionstoday.com auctions/Gala-for-the-Grove-2021-23180.