After pausing its annual gala since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials with the Hopkinsville Community College Foundation, Inc., have complete preparations for a refreshed fundraiser.
Set at Burdoc Farms in Crofton, the “Benefit Bash for HCC” is at 6 PM Thursday, August 17 in the Tobacco Barn venue. The event will feature a casual and relaxed atmosphere, the region’s original bourbon pull, Kentucky-themed heavy appetizers, Bluegrass music and some unique auction items.
This year’s event is quite different from the more formal galas in years past. According to the directors of the foundation, the group wanted to change the format to encourage participation by a wider variety of individuals across the community.
Most importantly, a live auction hosted by Bolinger Realty and Auction has many rare items donated for auction, including:
— A Trifecta Package for eight on Millionaire’s Row at Churchill Downs;
— A sunset cruise of Lake Barkley on a 57-foot yacht for 18-20 guests and includes charcuterie presentations from Hancock’s Neighborhood Market;
— Two tickets to the University of Kentucky Wildcats football game against Missouri with pre-game tailgate as guests of UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto;
— Several select bottles of bourbon:
— A TPAC evening with tickets to Mrs. Doubtfire with a Jeff Ruby’s gift card;
— And perhaps the most unique item being auctioned is a Darth Vader helmet, signed by the cast of the original Star Wars trilogy alongside creator George Lucas and composer John Williams. This includes Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Dave Prowse as Darth Vader, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, and Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca. It’s one of only 50 in the world, and is housed in a custom plexiglass museum quality preservation box that allows admirers an up- close look at a piece of movie history.
Additional information on live auction items can be found at the Bolinger Real Estate & Auction website. The event will also include a silent auction. Both auctions will conclude at the end of the evening.
With the cost of classes increasing to $582 per class on campus, not including books, and $642 per class for online instruction, the HCC Foundation continues to provide important scholarship funding for hundreds of qualified students.
Sponsorship opportunities remain, with tables of eight starting at $750. Individual tickets are available for $75 each and can be purchased at the HCC Foundation Facebook page through EventBrite or by calling Yvette Eastham, Executive Director of the HCC Foundation at the HCC Advancement Office at (270) 707-3733.
