Sierra Foothill Charter School students Bianca Rios and Eris Moore work the room, showing off sweet treats up for bid at last year's Sweetheart Dinner and Dessert Auction. The auction is always a popular part of the event.

Sweetheart Dinner Is Approaching!

Catheys Valley Parent Teacher Improvement Committee (PTIC) and the Kiwanis Club of Mariposa are holding the 26th Annual Sweetheart Dinner, raffle and dessert auction at McCay Hall on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 5 to 8 PM. The price of dinner is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Dinner can be purchased in advance or at the door, and take out is available.

The dinner includes deep-pit style beef served with potatoes, a salad, roll and beverage. “We want to keep the dinner price low so that everyone can come,” says PTIC President Annette Palmer. “We typically just make back what we spend on the dinner part of it.”

The real fundraising begins with the dessert auction starting at 5:30 PM. “We used to call it an old-fashion pie auction, but the variety of desserts has branched out considerably in recent years” says Palmer.

Profits from the event will be donated to both Sierra Foothill Charter School and Catheys Valley 4-H. “We are grateful to PTIC and Kiwanis for hosting this event to benefit SFCS,” said Principal Alfonso Garagarza.

Catheys Valley 4-H leader Stacy O’Hagan concurs. “It’s wonderful to be able to put on one fundraising event that benefits both organizations,” she said.

The fundraiser is well attended by the community at large, and all are welcome to participate in this fun event.

“Some families are known to bring certain desserts,” says Palmer, “and other families want to be sure to bid high enough to get them!” Last year, desserts sold from $20 to the top seller of $450.

The children walk around with the desserts during dinner, enticing bidders with their goods—and their personalities.

“Who can resist these children when they smile sweetly and say ‘Wouldn’t you like to bid on this special dessert I made?’” says Palmer. “It really is difficult to refuse. The children are what make this such a successful fundraiser for us.”

The auction will continue until all the desserts are gone.

Another popular aspect of this fundraiser is the raffle. This year, PTIC and Kiwanis are raffling a $500 Stage Stop Gun Shop certificate and a $100 Visa Gift card. Raffle tickets are available now from any SFCS student or Catheys Valley 4-H member for $5 each. They will also be on sale at the event. The winners, who need not be present, are picked the night of the dinner.

The hosts have gotten students and 4-H members involved. “As added incentive,” says Palmer, “for every 5 tickets the children sell, we’re giving them a free ticket of their own for a chance to win a special prize!”

For more information, or to purchase dinner or raffle tickets, please contact Stacy O’Hagan at (209) 742-4331.