The 301 Central Education Foundation’s ninth annual Trivia with a Twist contest on Saturday aboard the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin raised over $25,000, the largest amount ever raised by the event.
“Trivia with a Twist was sold out for the first time,” said Laura Rabe, foundation chairman. “We had more sponsors than ever and a brand new presenting sponsor.”
In addition to a buffet dinner and the chance to dress up and compete in a trivia contest, the 250 attendees were helping fund educational opportunities for the students of Central Community Unit School District 301.
“The foundation was created just over eight years ago,” said foundation board member Tom Knief. “Over that time, the foundation has ensured that each child who walks into a District 301 building will have an equitable opportunity whether that means funding a field trip or providing a gym uniform, winter hats, boots, coats, gloves, or any other such need.”
Knief said that the foundation has also provided $50,000 for grants to support student/teacher initiatives; awarded 18 scholarships totaling $9,000 for Burlington Central High School seniors; funded $25,000 to support district technology initiatives under “The Richard Perry Project,” and provided the lion’s share of capital needed for the voter-approved Nov. 8 referendum to improve and expand the high school.
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Dressed as their favorite movie stars, attendees competed in teams with names such as: The Trivinators, Puttin’ on the Glitz, The Rat Pack, The Hateful 8, The Team Who Must Not be Named, and Fast Times at Central High.
Last year, Jeff and Val Freeman, Kelly and Donna Voss, Amy and Dave Lomas, and Steve and Jennie Menke won the award for best decorated table with a MASH 4077 theme.
This year, the group chose the theme of the Griswolds and portrayed characters such as: Clark and Ellen Griswold; their children, Rusty and Audrey, and their cousin, Eddie Johnson.
Pat and Maria Crawford, Shelly DeLeo, Shelley Gilroy, Jeff and Alisen Morris, and Debbie, Gary and Jill Wisniewski dressed up as characters from the movie “Grease.” Shelley DeLeo and Shelley Gilroy dressed as the before and after Sandy. Jill as Frenchy took a bow when the song “Beauty School Dropout” played during dinner.
Elgin couples Dan and Barb Wood and Tom and Lori Gaydos decided to wear outfits that would earn them a mention on Blackwell’s Worst Dressed List.
Scott and Cindy Rash, Melly Voss, Joie McGrath, Mindy Murillo and Jorrel Santos chose the Bette Davis saying of “Old age is no place for sissies” as the theme for their team.
A boiling cauldron highlighted the Harry Potter table of Hogwarts fans Jim O’Malley, Neile Litton, Tammy and Chris Bognetti, Mark Mylott, Elisabeth Stonebreaker, Amy Penar and Kim Stark.
The next big foundation event will be the inaugural Pizza Wars and 301 Business Expo from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, at Prairie Knolls Middle School in Elgin.
Local area pizzerias will be competing for the chance to be named “Best Pizza of the District.”
The business expo is limited to District 301 family-owned/operated businesses. For $30, a 6-foot table with two chairs and a plastic tablecloth will be provided.
Tickets for attending the event will be available for purchase online in December and available for pickup on the night of the event.
For information, contact the foundation at 847-464-6005; www.301foundation.org.
Denise Moran is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.