Passion for Polson fundraiser nets $16,000
courtesy photo
A Tribal Waves member twirls a stick burning at both ends to entertain guests at the GPCF annual fundraiser. Tribal Waves is a local fire dancing troupe.
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POLSON — “Inland Paradise” was the theme of the Greater Polson Community Foundation’s annual Passion for Polson fundraising event held Saturday, Aug. 18, at the lakeside home of Bob and Betty Moore.
Dressed in colorful Hawaiian attire, the 140 guests raised more than $16,000 for the GPCF permanent endowment fund. GPCF president Penny Jarecki announced $15,000 has been awarded to six qualifying non-profit organizations in 2012. In the four years the Greater Polson Community Foundation has been awarding grants, $50,000 has been given back to the community.
Event attendees were greeted with floral and seashell leis and were seated at lakeside tables decorated with centerpiece arrangements of pineapples, palm fronds and dendrobium orchids. While mingling as the party began, guests enjoyed slack key guitar music by Dan Dubuque and luau appetizers, including lomi lomi salmon and taro leaf-wrapped laulau, which was flown in from an Oahu restaurant. The evening’s signature cocktail was also in keeping with the tropical theme; with the help of Whistling Andy’s distillery, the GPCF Event Committee developed the Inland-tini, made with hibiscus-coconut rum and mango-papaya puree. Guests dined on a buffet dinner of roast pig and island-style side dishes during Jarecki’s remarks, which included recognition of past GPCF board members, Arn Hart, Nancy Glueckert, and David Rensvold. After dinner, hula dancers invited guests to join them in a hula lesson, and the evening ended as the sun set on Flathead Lake, with a lively fire dancing performance by local group, Tribal Waves.
GPCF’s event committee is already planning for next summer’s fundraising event. Jarecki acknowledges that each year, the committee tries to “outdo the previous year and bring a completely new theme to life,” which has resulted in the annual party becoming known as one not to miss.
