Foundation is ready to ‘shake, rattle, and roll’

Preparations continue for the Mt. Hood Community College Foundation Annual Auction, Dinner and Dance, an event organizers hope will generate plenty of fun and financial support.

The chosen theme for the April 26 event at the Red Lion Hotel on the River, located at Jantzen Beach, is “Shake Rattle & Roll,” with a bow to the 1950s.

The auction is one of the biggest fundraisers the MHCC Foundation holds, with money raised going toward student scholarships, said Al Sigala, Foundation executive director. The goal this year is to raise about $25,000.

“The scholarships are really important because, as everyone knows, state funding is not increasing for the college,” he said.

Auction proceeds also will help to update classrooms and classroom materials, he said. “The college is working on an effort to redo the science labs,” he said. “One of the things the college didn’t have was the funds to make those classrooms ‘smart’ classrooms (with wired technology), so the Foundation is coming in and saying, ‘Let’s help the college accomplish that goal.’ ”

The Foundation volunteer board decided to go with a ’50s theme to help promote the auction event. The volunteers’ work doesn’t stop there, Sigala said.

“It’s coming up with who’s going to be our sponsors, talking to the different possible sponsors out there, getting those sponsorships,” he said. The volunteer committee also lines up the items to be auctioned.

The evening of “Shake, Rattle & Roll” will consist of two auctions. It kicks off at 5 p.m., with a silent auction where items such as gift baskets and coupons will be up for grabs. Dinner follows at 6:30, then a live auction at 7:30.

Among items for the live auction are trips to Cannon Beach, another to Orcas Island, a week in Mexico, a trip to Disneyland and great seats to the Oregon State University versus Stanford football game this fall.

The night ends with dancing, to music by the group Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts.

Reservations for dinner are $100 for one person, and $200 for a couple.

Sigala said his wish is that guests truly enjoy Mt. Hood fundraising events.

“If we can have them really have a great time, then they’ll continue to come back year after year and be glad to do this for the bigger cause of helping students,” he said.

“It’s gonna be a fun year, and the Foundation board is excited about it — the fact that we’re looking at different ways of creating more community,” he said. “What I call it is really ‘friend-raising,’ as well. ‘Friend-raising’ is key. We have to create those friendships, those partnerships out there before you can really fundraise.”

The Red Lion Hotel on the River is at 909 N. Hayden Island Drive, in north Portland.

To make a reservation, offer a donation, or sponsor the event or a Foundation visit, see mhcc.edu/foundation or call 503-491-7206