SAEF’s annual Festival of Tables chalks up another resounding success
Animal Blood Resources takes home First Place with its Alice in Wonderland theme. Front row:Alice Selena Horner, Cat Leanne Bremiller. Back row: Mad Hatter Scott Horner, Tweedle Dee Mallory Donajkowski, Tweedle Dum Andrea McKimmy, Queen Jenny Smith, Card Guard Vonda Smith, and Rabbit Gina Wright.
by Jill Ogden
Photos by Jordan Hammerberg and James Clark-Swalla
March 23 marked the Stockbridge Area Educational Foundation’s 16th annual Festival of Tables, generating $35,400 in gross revenue—No small change for this rural community. So what is SAEF’s storied past in serving the local community and school system?
Nearly 20 years ago, nine founding members of the community—Bruce Brown, Tom Clark, Meredith Hanna, Bob Hannewald, Larry Krummrey, Jill Peck, Jack Potts, Gary Topping and Dorene White—gathered to develop a nonprofit organization to support the educational development of residents in the Stockbridge, primarily through distributing grants and scholarships.
Stockbridge Lions Club wins Second Place with its Downton Abbey-themed table. Members present included: Richard and Kathleen Mullins, Jan Dunlap, Denny and Sandy Johnston, Miles and Lyn St. Dennis, Thomas Connors, Joe and Wendy Trombettia, Peter and Janice Shireman, Jacquie Morgan, Kinra Morgan, Penny Kunzelman, Kaylee Bair, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Clark, Andrea and Bill Stickney.
In the beginning the foundation was fueled through grassroots efforts like mailings, often funded from the pockets of these founding members. Soon after SAEF received a generous donation from the Munith-Fitchburg American Legion Post 526, the first annual scholarship was established and awarded. To this day, this scholarship continues to benefit Stockbridge students.
SAEF raises moneys through generous private donations and endowments, enabling the foundation to award more than $192,000 in educational grants since 2004.
Stockbridge Community News table wins Third Place with its fortune-telling theme. L-R: Cindy Mitchell, Audrey Price, Connie Spadafore, Mary Krummrey, Larry Krummrey, Normi Spadafore, Bob Williams, Judy Williams, Diane Rockall, Nancy Wisman, and Patrice Johnson.
The foundation holds one annual fundraiser, the Festival of Tables. Since its inception in 2003, the event has proved a resounding success. The first festival grossed over $20,000 and established the event as a major social event in the local area,.
Gordie Kunzelman emcee entertains the crowd with the first auction item of the evening.
Subsequent festivals have continued the trend, grossing between $20,000 and $26,000 annually. March 23’s Festival of Tables featured live entertainment, mouthwatering food, silent and live auctions and, of course, good company.
Attendees decorated their sponsored tables and votes were cast for first, second and third place for best table display. Table Contest Winners:
First Place: Animal Blood Resources International
Second Place: Stockbridge Lions Club
Third Place: Stockbridge Community News
Raffle Ticket winners were:
$500 Winner: Brent Muller
$200 Winner: Ron Tolson, donated the full amount to the Stockbridge Track Team
$100 Winner: Heather Marks
Jeanette Wetzel won $350 in the first 50/50
Kate Schumacher won $200 in the first Heads/ Tails
Justin Heaviland won $106 in the second 50/50
Bob Williams won $100 in the second Heads/Tails and donated $50 back
The festival’s income derives from the generosity of donors who provide items for the silent and live auctions and from attendees open their pocketbooks for a good cause.
SHS Jazz band entertains during dinner
Abbott & Fillmore wins bid for SCN half page.
Jennifer Hammerberg, SAEF President, and Bruce Brown, founding member of SAEF and former Stockbridge Schools Superintendent, share a moment.
Judy Williams former SAEF director and current SCN treasurer and director, transforms into fortune teller extraordinaire.
213 auction items were donated
First Place winning Animal Blood Resources Alice in Wonderland Table.
Second Place winning Stockbridge Lions Club table.
Honor Society members help with raffle sales.
Stockbridge Lions Club dresses in Downtown Abbey style and its table takes second place.
The Third-place winning Stockbridge Community News table.
Stockbridge Community News table wins Third Place with its Fortune-telling theme.
Glen Noble, auctioneer for the evening.
Glen Noble, auctioneer for the evening, and Paige Brown inspire the audience to dig deep into their pockets.
National Honor Society students help with the auction.
Terry Spada celebrates her winning bid.
Laura Brown shows Jo Mayer her certificate.
Still standing during the heads and tails game.
Granger table bids to win.
The crowd enjoys the Heads and Tails game
Bob Williams wins the bid for a fishing trip.
American Legion table sports red, white and blue.
Diane Rockall, Connie Spadafore and Normi Spadafore study the live auction list and plan their bids.
Porcelain fortune teller doll, handmade by Judy Williams, decorates the SCN table.
The Class of 1960 table enjoys the moment.
Farmers State Bank table.
Stockbridge Lions Club table.
Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition table.
Larry Krummrey, founding director of SAEF, enjoys visiting with friends.
Sisters in law Connie and Normi Spadafore win the bid.
Karl Heidrich, Superintendent of Schools, joins the fun.
Waterloo Area Historical Society gathers to show support of SAEF.
Stockbridge Panther Cubs PTO shows its true colors–orange and black, of course.
The Donna Schumacher Memorial Scholarship table.
Shevrovich Family table.
CG Daycare & Preschool table.
SRSLY table.
McDonalds of Stockbridge table.
The World is Our Classroom table
The American Legion Mackinder-Glenn Post No 510 table.
Eaton Federal Savings table.
SCS Administrators table.
Salow + 1 table.
Patrice Johnson
Editor in Chief of Stockbridge Community News. Author of national award winning, "The Fall and Rise of Tyler Johnson"