Boosters host annual fund-raiser

A few rain showers weren't enough to keep the Bigfork community from attending the 11th annual Bigfork Booster Club Barbecue Sunday afternoon at the Flathead Lake Lodge.

"It's our biggest fund-raiser for the kids," said Booster Club President Jodie Thole. "This is where we get all of the money to buy everything for the school."

Bigfork High School is the only school in the state that has a Booster Club that does all of its fund-raising for the athletics and activities program, according to Thole. At other schools parents, teams, teachers and coaches are also required to do some of their own fund-raising. However, the Bigfork Boosters get lots of help from those parents, community members, teachers and coaches who choose to pitch in.

Even Booster Club members from the past helped out when they heard there were still quite a few tickets left with just days remaining to the event.

Each year 325 tickets are sold for $100 a piece. The price includes two steak dinners and four drink tickets, as well as entry into the drawing for prizes. Names are drawn continually while attendees eat and socialize with one another. Some people win Bigfork sports apparel, wine or beer. But 19 of the tickets drawn are worth money. A total of $13,725 is given away. Some winners get enough to cover their ticket price, but others walk away with much more. The last ticket drawn is worth $10,000 and the second to the last is worth $1,000.

This year it came down to Mary Beth Sampsel and Bill Burton holding the last two tickets. They were given the option to split the $11,000 or to take what is given to them as it is drawn. They ultimately decided to split the winnings rather than take the gamble. However, for fun the ticket was drawn anyway, and as it turned out Sampsel would've been the big winner.

The Booster Club members also received a few prizes for their hard work. Sue Loeffler and Brenda Jordt were each awarded $100 for selling the most tickets to the event. Both sold 27. Christine Neu also received $100 for selling the winning ticket for the raffle.

Besides admission prices, the Booster Club also raised about $4,000 through a silent auction of donated items from area businesses, which included gift baskets, jewelry, pottery and art. The Boosters also had a live auction for two pairs of Denver Broncos tickets, which raised a total of $825.

"It went very smoothly," Thole said of the barbecue. "I have a great team of girls and they all stepped up and took over what needed done."

The turnout was especially impressive with the rainy weather and the poor economy.

"This year we had a lot new people come to the barbecue," Thole said. "That's really important for us to have them experience it for the first time. Everyone always has such a great time and it is nice to have new people get to see what it is all about."

Part of the good time is credited to the Averills, who have hosted the annual party since its inception.

"I can't thank Doug and Maureen Averill enough for hosting this for 11 years straight," Thole said.