Janesville Area Foundation members (from left) Arlene Pooley, Kelly Eustice, Bridget Gehring, Claudia Roesler, Sam Steffel, Mike Finley, Joe Burke, and Dave Pope pose in Yellowstone themed costumes alongside cardboard cutouts from the series.Pioneer photo by Jonah Stafford
Celebrating 10 years of giving
Janesville Area Foundation throws Yellowstone themed party
Janesville Area Foundation throws Yellowstone themed party
Wed, 12/28/2022 - 11:03pm
The Janesville Area Foundation’s 10th anniversary celebration delighted attendees gathered at the St. Ann Catholic Church’s Parish Center Saturday night.
The local non-profit, which exists under the Waseca Area Foundation umbrella, was founded on July 24, 2012. “We raise funds to grant back to the Janesville area,” said JAF chair Mike Finley, who has been with the foundation since its inception.
Janesville’s schools, churches, library, the Big Brothers and Sisters, and other important organizations in the community receive grants from the JAF’s endowment fund towards projects and programs.
The party was themed after the hit television series Yellowstone; guests were encouraged to come dressed in Western attire.
Across the social hour, dinner, auctions, trivia, and other festivities, JAF members and community supporters had a wildly good time.
Adding to the celebration of all things local, Janesville’s own Brew’d Awakenings' Bistro sold drinks at a bar station throughout the evening.
Guests, who were seated at reserved tables, were treated to a three-course meal which featured cheesecake for dessert.
Joe Burke served as the MC for the evening, offering charming banter and contagious energy as he auctioned off items and led the crowd through trivia games.
“What are we here for tonight but a big celebration?” asked Waseca Area Foundation director Amy Potter in a speech that highlighted JAF’s growth over the past decade.
After raising $70,000 in its first year, the JAF’s balance is now sitting at $370,353. Over $10,000 of the fund’s principal interest was granted back to the community last year.
The desserts auctioned off during the dinner included two strawberry rhubarb pies, a SKOR cake, French silk pie, and cherry cheesecake.
There was a “battle of the pies,” between Arlene Pooley and Joe Burke, who each baked a strawberry rhubarb confection. With audience urging, this reporter was chosen to be an impartial juror and after a taste test declared Pooley’s pie as the winner.
After prize drawings, which granted some in attendance free dinner, more items were auctioned off, including a leaf blower, Minnesota Twins tickets, a painting by a local artist, a diamond ring, and multiple dinner experiences.
The most expensive item sold was a $2,500 rib dinner for 10, prepared by Fr. Brian Mulligan.
The closing entertainment for the event was a three-round trivia game, though many opted to stay indoors due to the tumultuous weather outside.
After a fun-filled evening of games and prizes, the real winner Saturday night was the city of Janesville.
Though Finley said the night was more of a celebration than a fundraiser, the giving spirits of those who attended the party were impossible to miss.