EVANSTON — The 15th annual Festival for Families was held on Saturday, Dec. 1, and the event raised more than $20,000 to assist families in need this holiday season. The festival also featured fundraising for the Jack and Mary Jarose Memorial Scholarship fund. 

This year’s festival, held at the Roundhouse, featured a few new components designed to add interest to the evening and assist with fundraising. In addition to the raffle tickets that also provided admission to the event and the 50/50 raffle fundraiser, this year also featured a VIP option. Those who purchased VIP tickets were able to access a designated area upstairs for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and exclusive early access to select silent auction items. 

In another new twist, for $100, attendees could purchase a “golden ticket,” which allowed the winner of that drawing to select any of the live auction items. Winner Sarah Dean chose a murder mystery dinner provided by Victor and Rachel Reifon. 

The mystery dinner was donated as a fundraiser for the Jack and Mary Jarose Memorial Scholarship, so all the funds raised from golden ticket sales went toward the scholarship. Event organizer Loretta Howieson-Kallas said that combined with the 50/50 raffle funds along with monies raised through the auction of a large wreath and swag donated by Kathy and Michelle Haggerty, $4,100 was raised for the scholarship. 

Live auction items included a cruise for two, a private movie showing at Aspen Cinemas, a private escape room experience at iSolvu, a girls’ night out, a custom Christmas tree and more. Also up for grabs in the live auction was a “mystery box” that bidders vied for without knowing the contents. The mystery inside was revealed to be a deluxe golf package that sold for $800. 

Howieson-Kallas said Festival for Families received a $5,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation and a $2,000 donation that will go directly to benefit Kelsey Couture to assist in her battle with stage 4 breast cancer.

The raffle prizes this year included Visa gift cards and a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Jaron Fry won the Cabo trip, while Tony Kelly won a $500 Visa card and Heidi Currutt a $300 Visa card. Howieson-Kallas said there were multiple other donated items used as door prizes, including theater tickets, 7K fit memberships, oil changes and restaurant and retail gift cards. 

Donations are still coming in, but Howieson-Kallas said she expects net proceeds to be approximately $24,000, which would be an increase from last year. She said the evening provided a lot of fun while raising a great deal of money thanks to generosity of donors, buyers and everyone who attended.