On Saturday, July 9, the Lee Pesky Learning Center will hold its first Stay-at-Home benefit as a new fundraising approach for the center. Anyone can make a 100 percent tax-deductible donation and enjoy a Saturday evening in July doing anything else.
Hallie Kelly, the center's director of development, said donations have been good since the cen-ter announced that it would not hold a benefit gala but would ask patrons to donate directly.
"We want to see if we can do this," Kelly said. "Businesses in town can not keeping giving all that they give. How many times can you ask a small business to give when many are struggling? It puts them in a tough position. We live in an incredible generous place were people always want to help out. It is what makes living in a place like this so incredible."
All donations to the Lee Pesky Learning Center help kids who think and learn differently. With no event costs, all the funds raised for the Stay-at-Home benefit will go directly to underwrite serv-ices, program and scholarships at the center.
< For those missing auction items, not to worry. The Lee Pesky Learning Center will still give pa-trons an opportunity to bid on items online. Visit www.biddingforgood.com/leepesky and bid on a plethora of items while supporting the center. Trips, jewelry and other hard-to-find auction items are available for bidding from July 9-25. Some items to browse for include Smith sunglasses, a 20-day Sun Valley ski pass, an overnight stay at the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, Boise hotel stays, Boise State University football tickets, trips to Los Angeles, St. Thomas and London.
"We have had incredible support for the auction," Kelly said. "There are great deals and amaz-ing items."
Though the benefit may have changed, the 10th annual Marvelous Minds Hunt is free and the center is hoping for a big turnout of family and kids. Family-friendly teams will race through the streets of Ketchum solving clues and testing wit, ingenuity and the ability to think outside the box in pursuit of the fastest time.
This year the hunt has new twists and great prizes. The hunt is free and will take place at 11 a.m. at the Ketchum Town Square followed by a winners ceremony at noon. To sign up, email jjes-sup@lplearningcenter.org.
"Come out and show your support," Kelly said. "It's fun and clues are easier this year."
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
At the 2010 Lee Pesky Learning Center Marvelous Minds Scavenger Hunt, clue seekers take off to be the first to solve riddles around Ketchum. Photo by Willy Cook
