A decade to remember!
Over $50,000 raised at Saturday’s annual Benevolent Fund dinner
On Saturday night, 200 benevolent friends, neighbors and newcomers came together for the 2020 Benevolent Fund Celebrity Waiter Dinner. While raising money for Rappahannock’s beloved fund, dinner guests also had the opportunity to relive the 1960s.
Table decorations and costumes spanned the decade — space exploration, music, and particularly the hippie scene brought the room to life as hits from the 60s played in the background.
Just before dinner, Rev. Miller Hunter, chair of the Rappahannock Benevolent Fund, announced to the attentive crowd that an anonymous donor had stepped forward and generously pledged to match every dollar raised at the dinner. A huge round of applause erupted as partygoers dug a little deeper to boost proceeds at Saturday night’s dinner.
A preliminary accounting indicates over $50,000 was raised. Many thanks to all of our sponsors, hosts, waiters, volunteers and attendees who made this number a reality.
Hardworking celebrity waiters for this year’s event included Garrey and Sarah Beth Curry, Debbie Donehey, John Jacquemin, Frank Raiter, Susan Stoltzman, Meggan Abboud, Chris Doxen, Nancy Raines, Matthew Black, Joyce Wenger, Mimi Forbes, Jimmy Swindler, Shannon Grimsley, Bud Myers, Kendra Hahn, Kelsa Knick, Todd Summers, Chris Co, and Kathi Dutihl.
Every year, enthusiastic waiters compete to see who will raise the most money for the Benevolent Fund. While no prize is officially awarded, it is no less a coveted title. This year’s first place winner is Griffin Tavern, led by owner and Wakefield District Supervisor Debbie Donehey. Coming in a close second was Settle’s Grocery and Garage, led by Kendra Settle Hahn.
New to this year’s event is the “Best Table” award. It was a tough decision with so many creative ideas representing a decade of transformational change. So without further ado, the 2020 Best Table award goes to Sperryville Volunteer Rescue Squad for their Martin Luther King theme, which included a life size cutout of John F. Kennedy and a 1960’s photograph of each of their guests.
On behalf of the Celebrity Waiter Dinner Committee — Barbara Black, Claire Cassel, Derek Capizzi, Kathi Dutihl, Peggy Spillenkothen, and yours truly Theresa Wood — thanks to all who sponsored, attended, and volunteered. You made this not only a decade to remember but a night to remember.