Posted on

Sold-out house for Dining for Dollars scholarship fundraiser

  • Members of the Comet Cafe at Charles City High School help prepare the dinner for the Dining for Dollars scholarship fundraiser at the Elks Lodge Friday night. Photo submitted

  • Chef Shawn Benningsdorf helps prepare the meal for the Dining for Dollars event Friday evening. Photo submitted

  • Chef Cory Wendel, a Charles City High School alumnus, helps prepare the dinner for the 2019 Dining for Dollars scholarship fundraiser at the Elks Lodge. Photo submitted

  • A sold-out house waits for the meal to begin at the Dining for Dollars scholarship fundraiser at the Elks Lodge Friday evening. Photo submitted

  • The jazz vocal group Rhymes with Orange, from Charles City High School, entertains Friday evening at the Dining for Dollars scholarship fundraiser at the Elks Lodge in Charles City. Photo submitted

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A sold-out crowd of 150 people gathered Friday for a night of fine food and fundraising for the Dollars for Scholars scholarship fund.

The Charles City-area organization annually gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships to Floyd County students. Last year $42,800 in scholarships were given in amounts ranging from $250 to $2,500.

The “Dining for Dollars” event Friday night at the Elks Lodge featured a gourmet meal prepared by Charles City High School alumnus and chef Cory Wendel and his friend, chef Shawn Benningsdorf, with help from students from the Comet Cafe. Entertainment was by the high school jazz group Rhymes With Orange.

Dollars for Scholars board member Kim Wendel said the event Friday raised about $7,000. As a result of publicity about the event, seven new groups came forward to establish scholarships, she said.

High bid at the auction that was part of the event was $700, for a private dinner party for eight, to be prepared by chef Wendel, who is Kim Wendel’s son.

Scholarship amounts this year will range from $500 to $3,000, and are available to any student participating in a post-secondary educational endeavor, including community college, four-year colleges and universities, trade schools and online courses. The scholarships are distributed in the second semester of classes after high school.

Kim Wendel said this year’s scholarship awards banquet will be in May. She said the “mailathon” letters regarding scholarship donations will be mailed next month.

Social Share

LATEST NEWS