On Saturday, Feb. 8, organizations and members of the community gathered at Mustang Creek Event Center and helped raise around $33,000 for the Whitesboro Education Foundation (WEF).
The Denim & Diamonds Winter Gala is the WEF’s primary fundraiser for the year. All proceeds from the event go directly to the Whitesboro Independent School District (WISD) through scholarships for graduating seniors and teacher grants for classroom education.
The event began at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a photo booth backdrop where people could pose for pictures. As attendees mingled, they could also peruse the tables of silent auction items and place their bids for prizes ranging from Shadowcats tickets and Rock Creek Golf passes to custom wine boxes and gift baskets from various area businesses.
Whitesboro High School National Honor Society students were on hand to refill water glasses and sell raffle tickets for Brooks and Dunn concert tickets and a 50/50 raffle to win a cash prize.
Rev. Rick Carney opened the evening with a prayer, then guests were invited to go through the buffet line for dinner. Catered by Feast On This, the meal included stuffed chicken with lemon herb sauce, roast beef with mushroom sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and a dinner roll.
After dinner, the first raffle of the night was for a beautiful potted plant donated by Hayes’s Florist for WISD employees. The winner was Marcy Stock, an 8th grade teacher at Whitesboro Middle School.
Next was a drawing for a custom charcuterie board from Bob Davis. The winner was Wendy Dunn.
Carney addressed the crowd again, sharing a few jokes before turning the microphone over to the event’s live auctioneer, Chad Chance. Chance led a fun game of Heads or Tails before the evening’s live auction began. Live auction items included prizes ranging from a three-night stay at a Broken Bow cabin and a Henry 22 mag rifle to a two-person Lake Texoma Fishing Trip by Hooked On Rods and a set of his and hers Schwinn hybrid bicycles.
Later in the evening, live entertainment was provided by The Greg Guymon Band.
Founded in 2003, the Whitesboro Education Foundation held its first gala in Tioga, and a portion of each monetary donation and contribution was placed in a permanent endowment fund. Each year, the Foundation’s goal is to continue to grow contributions to the fund and increase the total amount awarded for campus grants and scholarships. These goals could not be achieved without the help of event sponsors, donors and attendees.
Gavin Pirtle, a Whitesboro alum and 2022 WEF scholarship recipient, is currently a junior in college who will use his degree to work in the hospital or clinical labs to help doctors diagnose patients.
“The WEF scholarship helped me pay for expenses in pursuit of a degree in Medical Laboratory Science at Grayson County College,” Pirtle said. “I’m forever grateful for what the WEF has provided to help me with my college expenses and hope to continue to see more students who are pursuing higher education benefit as well.”
This year’s event sponsors included 4U Credit Union, Atlantic National Trust, Axtell Pharmacy, City of Whitesboro, Davis Water Well Services, Dennard’s, Dominos, First State Bank, First United Bank, Holiday Auto Group, Kiwanis, Legend Bank, Kyle Tack, Masonic Lodge, MB Electric, Mustang Creek, OK Brand Wire, Skreen Door, Tangled Cotton, Trident Process Systems and Whitesboro WEDCO/WIDCO.
For more information about the Whitesboro Education Foundation, contact any board member or call 903-564-4280.
