On November 3rd, 2018, the Dunn County community gathered to support the work and mission of the Community Foundation of Dunn County at their 8th Annual Jeans & Jewels Gala. Over 275 guests filled the Great Hall at the UW-Stout Memorial Student Center to support the event.
A crowd favorite, the Dessert Dash raised an impressive $10,000 for charity in a matter of minutes. Donated sweets ranged from layer cakes, to creamy cheesecakes, and of course wholesome pies, with favorites like a Cranberry Walnut Spice Cake with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream donated by Leslie Norris, and the Rustic Pear Tart with Apricot Glaze and Neuchantel from Mark & Robin Johnson of Zanzibar Restaurant & Pub. Guests had the opportunity to collectively bid as a table, and then one lucky runner from each table quickly dashed to claim their favorite dessert, before anyone else. A total of 34 guests dashed for dessert. Thanks to a generous winning bid of $951 from the State Farm Insurance table, guests Jackie Hunt and Jon Brutlag, Jim and Patti Walker, and Brian and Wendy Wold of Quality Auto Body, indulged in their top choice, the Peanut Butter Heath Cheesecake with Caramel Drizzle donated by Vanessa Bloor – the top dessert two years in a row!
Guests were also enticed with the new Bubbles & Bling raffle this year. With the purchase of a glass of champagne, guests were entered to win their choice between two handmade, one-of-a-kind rings made by accomplished local designer and goldsmith, Robert Giede. The raffle winner chose her favorite ring, and the second ring was included in the live auction, hosted by the Lee brothers of Lee Real Estate & Auction Services. The event stage was filled with generous donations from community businesses to be included in the live auction. Guests couldn’t miss the six-foot-tall refrigerator donated by Bill’s Distributing, with its glowing LCD screen of looping displays that change with the sport seasons. 
Another unique item that stood out to the crowd was a vintage Barrango Carousel Horse. An everlasting image of all-things fanciful, this antique horse was lovingly restored and donated by Sandy Haesly and Tim Dotseth. Pictured is the horse’s proud new owner, Dianna Fiergola of Prince & Princesses children’s boutique.
This special night was a smashing success, all thanks to the generosity of the community. A special thank you to the presenting sponsors, Mark and Beverly Deyo-Svendsen, and corporate sponsors 3M, Bill’s Distributing, BMO Harris Bank, Keyes Chevrolet, WESTConsin Credit Union, and Northtown Ford. The staff and Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Dunn County are humbled by the immense generosity displayed by the community and ask you to save the date and join in the fun next year on Saturday, November 2nd, 2019.