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All hands on deck for HVRHS travel fundraiser

FALLS VILLAGE — For the past three years, Housatonic Valley Regional High School  Principal Ian Strever and Assistant Principal Steven Schibi have donned white gloves and served a fancy lunch in Strever’s office to four lucky students.

“It’s a pretty formal affair,” said Strever, “with linens, silverware, china and the finest sparkling cider, all prepared and served by yours truly.”

Not to be mistaken as a reward for good behavior, the lunch is an auction item from a fundraiser for the school’s travel club, Northwest Corner: Students Without Borders. Strever will auction off his culinary skills again at the club’s Wine Dinner and Auction, hosted by the White Hart in Salisbury on Friday, Sept. 16.

The evening accommodates 150 people under a tent on the Green. It includes a cocktail hour with sparkling wine, a four-course dinner with three wines and a live and silent auction. Auction items feature a Berkshire Aviation scenic flight, a timeshare in Myrtle Beach, S.C., golf packages and tickets to Tristate events, as well as many baskets and gift certificates from local businesses.

The club raised $30,000 last year and hopes to reach $50,000 this year. Students visited Costa Rica and Ecuador in 2021, and a group recently returned from Greece. In 2023, trips are planned to Japan, Ireland/Scotland and the Galapagos.

“I think it’s really amazing what this club has done to ensure the opportunity for any student to travel internationally,” said Strever. “All schools have international trips, but fewer have international travel clubs. Still fewer raise the kinds of funds this club has.”

After many months of gathering sponsors and auction items, students also play a large role in the evening.

“The kids put in a tremendous effort,” said Dan Winkley, hotel manager at the White Hart. HVRHS graduate Joe Brennan, who recently returned from Greece, worked at last year’s dinner.

“Everyone was there for the same purpose, so everyone was focused on doing a good job,” he said. Winkley added, “I always tell the students to appreciate that everyone is there for them.

“People get a great meal, try some wine and enjoy the auction. But at the end of the day, the people are really there to support the students.”

Lia Wolgemuth

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