For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2005
Annual Gala Dinner Raises Significant Funds to Support Agriculture Programs in Local Schools
RIDGETOWN, ON – The annual Taste of Chatham-Kent Gala Dinner was once again a great success on many levels. Held April 2, 2005 at Ridgetown College, the event was a first-class evening greatly enjoyed by all in attendance and succeeded in raising funds to support the advancement of agricultural-based education programs.
Tickets to this annual event were once again difficult to attain with key industry people and groups filling the over 210 available spaces early. Special guests at this sold-out event included Essex-Kent MPP Pat Hoy, Director of Education for the Lambton-Kent District School Board Gayle Stucke and Past Chair of Ontario Agri-Food Education Don McCabe. The Gala Dinner attracts key agricultural players due to their belief in the cause but also for the exceptional meal provided by Chartwells’ Chef Raymond Beaudoin and his staff, beautiful décor by Maggie’s Flowers & Gifts and the stellar service of local 4-H Club members.
In addition, both silent and live auctions were held adding to the class of the evening. Celebrity auctioneer Ross Daily was integral in raising over $2,000 through the live auction alone.
A Taste of Chatham-Kent is the key fundraising effort of Kent Agriculture in the Classroom, an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of the agri-food industry by providing educational programs and resources in this key agricultural market. The funds raised through the group’s efforts go toward providing teachers with the resources needed to help students appreciate the variety, quality, and availability of our food. One of the many projects the group participates in is the Science Education partnership which offers hands on learning science experiments based on real life situations.
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For more information, contact: Debbie Coke
Chair, Kent Agriculture in the Classroom
Phone: 519.683.4569
Email: [email protected]
Background:
Agriculture in the Classroom programs across Canada build an awareness and an understanding of sustainable agriculture and food systems by providing educational programs and resources to students and teachers. Kent Agriculture in the Classroom recently amalgamated with Lambton to ensure the importance of agriculture message is effectively introduced into the curriculum of both school boards.