United Way dinner and cake auction raises over $10,000
Thanks to the "3" "C's" - Clyde, Carolyne and the community coming together, the 25th anniversary of the United Way annual campaign kickoff dinner and popular cake auction proved to be a record breaking event.
Clyde Beougher, auctioneer and Carolyne Nihiser, cake auction chairperson, founded the fundraising event a quarter of a century ago and were instrumental in making the event hosted at the Olde Dutch Restaurant Tuesday evening a success, earning over $10,000 in proceeds.
Perhaps it was the opening performance by the Hocking County Children’s Chorus under the direction of Therese Karnes that set the tone for the evening when they impressed the crowd with their performance of “We are the World – We are the Children.”
Dale and Kathie Campbell, owners and operators of Seneca Steel Erectors, and longtime supporters of the cake auction, cast the highest bid of $1,000 for a large sheet cake that was highlighted with 20 lottery tickets. The Campbells also donated their second sweet treat back — a plate of homemade fudge — that was resold to Larry Dicken, Hocking County Commissioner and candidate for commissioner, for $55.
Dicken also purchased a tray of chocolate covered strawberries for $75 that were donated by the Scenic Hills Senior Center and were prepared by Amanda Fuller. Dicken repeated the gesture of donating his purchase back as well and the strawberries were purchased by John Wallace, Hocking County Common Pleas Court Judge, for $50.
Judge Wallace wasn’t done bidding yet either. He bought a coconut cake for $170 that was baked by Eileen Waugh and donated by Gary Waugh, candidate for Hocking County Commissioner.
Waugh also purchased a plate of homemade fudge donated by Smith Chapel Food Pantry for $85, as well as a Key Lime Bundt cake for $85 that was donated by Karen Raymore, executive director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association (HHTA), and two cupcakes for $10 each that were also donated by the auctioneer.
The Citizens Bank stepped up to the plate and purchased a triple chocolate cake that was filled with homemade raspberry filling and topped with raspberry buttercream frosting for $500. The cake was baked and donated by Chad and Julie Grow.
Sandy Ogle, Hocking County Commissioner and candidate for commissioner, cast the highest bid for an Italian Cream Cake baked by Bev Karr that was donated by the Laurelville Community Food Pantry. Ogle purchased the cake for $475 for the Scenic Hills Senior Center.
Smith Chapel Food Pantry bought Carolyne Nihiser’s German Chocolate cake for $375.
Nihiser’s family members proved they apparently inherited their mother’s and grandmother’s baking skills when they baked three cakes for the auction too.
Arctic Express purchased a purple and white cake bearing a large “L” in honor of the Logan Chieftains for $200 that was donated by Corby Leach, member of the Logan-Hocking Board of Education, while Leach also purchased 10 cupcakes at the conclusion of the auction for $100.
Walmart purchased a Halloween cake for $200 that was baked and decorated by Amber Sparks Smith, as well as a butter cream and vanilla cake donated by the Home Away From Home program for $160.
Walmart also teamed up with Hocking Hills Golf Club to purchase a block “O” Ohio State University cake for $225 that was baked and designed by Adrienne Nihiser and donated by Hocking Valley Community Hospital.
In addition, Walmart provided as a large jack-o-lantern style pumpkin cake that was baked and decorated by Nancy Bennington and was bought by the youngest bidder in attendance, seven-year old Ali Barrell, for $170.
In addition to Ali, the other Barrell family members comprised of Mike, Trina, Andrew, Melissa, Nick and Courtney, combined their efforts to buy a mystery box that was filled with a variety of items including a drone for $350.
Buckeyes and chocolate peanut crunch balls proved to be popular items for the bidders during the cake auction as well. Four trays of peanut crunch balls prepared and donated by Nancy Jo Meyer and Jean Elder were sold for $150 each to Diamond Power, Fred Moses, Hocking County Municipal Court Judge, Hocking Hills Golf Club and Logan High School principals and Boy Scouts of America, Simon Kenton Council.
A plate of Buckeyes donated by Ashley Aldridge were purchased by Logan Hocking Schools for $135 and Kenny and Jean Rheinscheld’s large platter of Buckeyes were sold to Teresa Schultheiss, athletic director for the LoganHocking School District for the Logan High School athletic department for $110.
Kyle Henderson, Hocking County Prosecutor and candidate for prosecutor, purchased a three-layer chocolate cake for $250. The cake was baked by Linda Foglesong and donated by FairHope Hospice and Palliative Care, while the organization also donated an Apple-of-Your Eye cheesecake, that was baked by Patsy McCormic and was bought by Hocking Valley Community Hospital for $75.
Sharon Elder, principal at St. John Catholic School, purchased a Halloween themed cake for $200 that was baked by Gina Lefher and donated by Hocking Hills Chamber of Commerce.
Nihiser also served as the keynote speaker for the event and noted that if the entire population of Hocking County would donate just $2.50 to United Way of Hocking County, the goal of $120,000 would easily be met.