Foundation dinner and auction a team effort

The MHCC Foundation is hosting its annual “Power of the Dream” Auction and Dinner May 4 at the Red Lion Hotel on the River.

“Getting all those people in one place, for one cause — that’s the best part,” said Casey Ryan, a member of the foundation board.  “Everybody’s there for the betterment of the community college. There’s something powerful about having that many people together in one room, for one reason,”

Ryan has been a member of the foundation board and the annual auction and dinner for the past two years. This year, however, he took on the role of auction chair.

He oversees meetings, helped with sponsor and donation gathering and will be the emcee for the evening, but, he said, “My role is nothing really compared to what the committee does as a whole.”

The event is planned by board members and volunteers from the community who make up the committee. They, along with MHCC Foundation staff such as Sunny Klever, are responsible for picking a theme and organizing the event.

“Sunny is amazing. Without her, this thing doesn’t go as well as it does,” said Ryan. “She is a blessing for this whole organization.”

Ryan said the event brings people together and allows them to learn about what is going on inside MHCC.

The committee and staff has been planning the event since early fall term and accumulated more than $60,000 in sponsorships and received donations for the silent and live auction baskets.

The proceeds earned from this event, which is the foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year, mostly go to a scholarship fund. Klever said the scholarships could go to both part-time and full-time students who are not studying any particular major.

Ryan became a foundation board member two years ago; He has served on various other boards, but he realized he was not as passionate about their areas.

Ryan will become foundation board vice president in July and president the following year.

Today is the last day to reserve your seat for the event. Visit http://mhcc.edu/foundation/ or call 503-491-7206 to make reservations. Tickets are $100 each or $200 per couple.

They are also selling raffle tickets for a 2013 Chevrolet Spark or Ford Fiesta until all 300 have been sold. The drawing will be at the auction; you do not need to be present to win. Raffle tickets can be purchased in the Foundation office or by phone.