Help Community Center while enjoying dining, dancing

It’s an unfortunate fact of our economic times: There are members of our community in need.

The list is long and grows daily. People need help with energy bills, food and housing. They need help buying school supplies for their children.

Spokane Valley Community Center tries to fill those needs.

Last year director Molly Dalpae started a fund-raiser called “A Bow Tie Affair.”

The idea is patterned after a similar effort in Georgia.

“The way it works down there, you have to inherit a ticket in order to go to this thing – it’s that popular,” Dalpae said. “We’re hoping this will grow into something similar. We’re hoping it builds up steam.”

This year’s Bow Tie Affair will be Friday at the Mirabeau Park Hotel. Tickets are $300 per person, and that price includes dinner, wine and dancing after prizes are handed out.

“A maximum of 250 tickets are sold, and then each ticket is put into a drawing,” Dalpae explained. “All night long we draw tickets for prizes. For example, you could win a trip for four to Orlando. You can win original artwork. The last ticket drawn is for your choice of three new cars.

“Ultimately, you have a 1-in-15 chance of winning a prize.”

Much better than your odds for hitting the lotto jackpot, with the knowledge that the ticket you purchased is going to help neighbors who really need the assistance.

“When you go to a silent auction you end up spending more than $300 by the time the evening is over,” Dalpae said. “This way you pay that money up front and never have to reach for your checkbook again the whole night.

“And 100 percent of the cost of your ticket is tax deductible.”

Last year’s inaugural event sold 150 tickets, and one lucky attendee walked away with a brand new car from Appleway Chevrolet.

This year three local dealerships have agreed to donate brand new vehicles, giving the lucky winner a clear choice for the ride home. Already the center has sold 175 tickets, so your chances of winning are dwindling while the need for assistance continues to grow.

“The money helps fund our heating program (which helps families pay the high cost of heating their home in the winter),” Dalpae said. “It helps our prescription drug program (helping people in need pay for needed medication), helps buy school supplies for children in poverty. It’s pretty dispersed throughout the budget.

“Last year we dispersed more than $60,000 in the heating program alone.”

A separate annual fund-raiser for the heating program is a charity golf tournament at MeadowWood, scheduled for July 21.

“Tickets for that are available also, so you can do both things at once if you want – make my job a lot easier,” Dalpae laughed. “Tickets to play golf are $100.”