September 28, 2022 |
The Party On The Platte earlier this month raised about $74,000 for the Platte Valley Community Center.
The fundraiser is held every year to help for upgrades and important infrastructure needs. This year’s $40 a plate event, held September 9th, drew a crowd of around 170 people. Much of the money was raised through a fundraiser.
The Platte Valley Community Center was built in 2007, on the grounds of the Saratoga Middle/High School. While the main school building was demolished, the gym and cafeteria remain and are used by the PVCC.
Executive Director of the Platte Valley Community Center Joe Elder said the goal of this year’s party was to raise enough money to replace the community center’s aging security system.
Elder would also like to add magnetic key fob access to the main gymnasium doors. Gym members will be able to use the facility after hours. Personalized fobs will keep track of who entered the building and when.
Elder will also change the door locks on the gym buildings. Being repurposed from the old school, the doors are all keyed differently. Elder would like to have them share the same key.
This year’s Party On The Platte raised around $74,000. The auction was a big hit. Author C.J. Box donated a cameo in his next novel. The $3,500 winning bidder will have a character named after them. Also auctioned off was a beetle-kill table, Cheyenne orchestra tickets, and an eight-person tasting at the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort restaurant.
Elder was pleased by the amount of money raised. He said it will allow them to complete the projects he has in mind.
Last year’s fundraiser was used to expand the outdoor patio. Elder said that he doesn’t know what next year’s projects will be, but that he is always welcoming of community input.
Next year will be the Platte Valley Community Center’s 16th year in operation. Elder said he wants to do something special for the PVCC’s sweet 16.
Pictured above: Party On The Platte 2022. Photo courtesy the Platte Valley Community Center.
