The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's most anticipated and largest fundraising event is its annual fall game dinner and auction. This year, the 32nd annual dinner will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, in the Sun Valley Inn's Limelight Room and will feature live music by the Super Curve band.
"I am a huge believer in this foundation," said foundation Development Director Karoline Droege. "I started skiing with the foundation in '81 as an athlete on the alpine team. Back then, it was just alpine and nordic and maybe 10 people."
From 1981-1989, Droege was on the alpine team and continued to race in college for the University of Utah from 1996-2002. She was a part-time coach for the foundation's B and D teams and served on its board of directors.
"Our program has been in existence for 40 years," Droege said. "People in this community support us because it really does reach out to the entire community."
The foundation allows Wood River Valley youth the opportunity to ski and snowboard with scholarships, coaching and training programs. Young athletes participate in alpine, cross-country, freestyle and snowboard programs. The foundation provides training facilities, racing opportunities, academic assistance to athletes and financial aid. It will award close to $200,000 in scholarships this year, more than any other youth ski and snowboard organization in the nation.
"We started solicitations in September right before the economic crisis," Droege said. "Even through all that is happening, our business community response to the auction has been unbelievable."
The silent auction, which includes over 75 items, will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and music by Alan Pennay followed by a savory dinner with game selected by Mountain Pride and prepared by Sun Valley's chefs. The evening will also feature the Jack Simpson Dedicated Coaches Award, mystery balloon sales and a live auction.
Live auction highlights include: Mt. Everest trekking adventure with Pete Patterson and Kim Jacobs, a private jet service for four with choice of a West Coast destination, a South Dakota pheasant hunt, an Argentinean lamb asado with Ruben Macaya, a stay at the Amangani Resort in Jackson, Wyo., which includes ski lift tickets and spa treatments, a Malibu retreat, Rotarun night skiing and giant slalom race party for 20 with ski education foundation coaches, a corporate heli ski pass with Sun Valley Heli Ski and much more. The entire list of auction items can be viewed on line at svsef.org/GDprogram08.
"The foundation serves 450 Wood River Valley youths and provides fantastic programs, structure and direction," Droege said. "There are lots of alumni programs and some participants are U.S. ski and snowboard team and snowboard members and have their sights set on the 2010 Olympics."
Tickets are $100 per person and vegetarian meals are available. Seating is limited but tickets are still available. For tickets and information, call Karoline Droege at 726-4129, ext. 111, or e-mail karoline@svsef.org.
