Soroptimist of Tahoe Sierra's virtual Elegant Evening a success

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many nonprofits have had to cancel their fundraisers due to the coronavirus, but the ladies of the Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) club in South Lake Tahoe weren't going to let the virus stop them.

Their 31t annual Elegant Evening was slated to be held at Harrah's Tahoe on April 18 with a sit-down dinner, live music, and dancing, raffle, and auction. The venue closed and restrictions on meeting in groups of over 10 people were created, so what do you do with an event that brings together 500 community members?

Move it online, of course.

The club moved their auction to a digital format a few years ago so those bidding could see the items prior to the event, even bid online, then all wrapped up with final bids at Elegant Evening. This made the transition this year an easy one.

They ladies still created their gift baskets and bags, and for the first time, these were available digitally. Artwork, experiences, meals, gift certificates, items and services filled the website and the bidding began a week before the virtual Elegant Evening this past Saturday.

At 7:00 p.m., Club President Kim Valverde did a Facebook Live kickoff and Wendy David from Tahoe Magic joined in to explain another highlight of the night, a plea for funds for Tahoe Magic to financially help those less fortunate in the community.

As the evening went on, the public and club members posted pictures of themselves on Facebook, showing how they were enjoying the night.

The club gave away $100 to two people, just for logging onto the bidding system, and a prize for best costume/picture of the night which gave the winner two tickets to next year's event on April 23, 2021. James Grubbs and Courtney Adamowicz were the two lucky $100 winners and the winner of the outfit is known as the "Lady in White" whose outfit was made of toilet paper, and a string of pearls, of course.

To date, over $67,000 was raised with $10,745 of that going directly to Tahoe Magic.

The success of the evening goes to show what an amazing community the South Shore one is, especially through such trying times. Kudos to the businesses who donated, even when they are temporarily closed or on reduced operations, those who sponsored tables for the dinner and didn't ask for their contribution back, along with everyone who participated financially to help raise funds.

Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra thanks everyone who participated in this exciting and worthwhile event and also those that donated to enable their support of the many programs and organizations they assist. As always, all money raised is invested in schools, scholarships, projects, and assisting youth; both locally and globally. visit www.sitahoesierra.org for more information.

Winning bidders can expect delivery when the Shelter in Place mandates are lifted.

SITS thanks the sponsors and their contributions for the event: Carson Welding, Inc.; Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate – Kim Valverde; Coldwell Banker Select Real Estate – Ron Hoy; Cornerstone Comprehensive Wealth Management; El Dorado Savings Bank; JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Sierra Air, Inc.

The club would also like to thank the following people/businesses who donated to the auction this year:

88 Cups & More, About A Boy, Advanced Bodywork by Catherine Kniley, Alpen Sierra, Alpine Animal Hospital, Alpine Smith, Amara Beauty, Angel Touch Day Spa-Anna Terry, Angel Touch Day Spa-Wendi Elvin, Aramark - Mesa Verde National Park, Aramark Lake Tahoe Cruises, Aramark-Denali Park Village, Artemis Mediterranean Grill, Atlantis Casino Resort, AutoZone, Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe ,Bert's Café, Bijou Municipal Golf, Bike Habitat, Blue Granite Climbing, Boeger Winery, Bonanza Boot and Leather, Bonita Paulis, Brothers Burrito House, California Burger, Capital Genealogy, Carol Hug-Haase, Carol Murdock, Karen Miner, & Linda Wysong, Carolyn Goff Coldwell Banker, Carson City Toyota, Carson Dermatology Skin Cancer Center, Carson Valley Inn, Carson Welding Inc., China Springs Youth Camp, Chris Holmes, City of South Lake Tahoe, Classic Cue, Clyde's Coffee Roasting Company, Cold Water Brewery and Grill, Crocker Art Museum, Cucina Lupo, Cynfully Essential, David N. Braun Photography, Dharma Love by Anastasia Keriotis, Discover My Tea, Dog Wash of Tahoe, Dollar Signs & Graphics, Donna Reid, Dot Walsh, Double Bond Wine, Dr. Adam Spindler, Dr. Paul & Cookie Rork and Dr. Greg & Jean Bergner, Duncan Golf Management - Eagle Valley Golf Course, Eadington Gallery, Eco Sphere Science, Inv., El Charro Avitia, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, El Dorado Jewelry, Elements Spa,Emerald Bay Salon, Enhance Spa, Ernie's Coffee Shop and Café, Evelyn Yonker, FixMeStick, Fontine, Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village, Fox & Hound, Freshies, Gaia-Licious, Galaxy Theatres, Genasci and Stigers Family Dentistry, Genoa Lakes Golf Club, Greater Nevada Field, Grocery Outlet, Gym Love Tahoe, Harrah's Resort Southern California, Heart Rock Herb & Spice Co., HelloHandmade, High Sierra Dental Care, Hope Lutheran Church, Hunewill Ranch, Imagine Salon, Jalapeno's Taqueria, James Seyfried-DDS, Jason's Beachside Grille, Jazzercise with Sherry, Jeanine "Gigi" Greene, John Anderson, John Valverde, June Denney-R.D.N-Nutrition Consultant, Kathryn Reed, Kel Gennert Art, Ken's Tire Center, Kim Steed Photography, Kingsbury Chiropractic, Kinney's Carpet Care, Kit Night Fine Art, Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe, Knits and Knots Tahoe, Kristen Hahn, Lake Monster Tattoo , Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, Lake Tahoe Bleu Wave, Lake Tahoe Epic Curling, Lake Tahoe Golf Course, Lake Tahoe Historical Society, Lake Tahoe Marathon, Lake Tahoe Mindfulness Community, Lake Tahoe Paint & Sip ,Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Lakeside Inn & Casino, Laser Center of Carson Valley, Les Schwab Tires, Lilly's Tire Service, Linda Bronken, Liston Studios, Little Bear Books Lake Tahoe, Live A Tahoe Day, Live Violence Free, Living Water Massage Therapy, Lois Loveless, Lorilyn Haubrich, LTCC Foundation, LTCC CONNECT Community Education, MacDuff's Pub, Main Street Gardnerville, Malcolm Tibbetts, Marilyn's Cat Walk, Meek's Lumber, Menegon's Ace Hardware, Meyers Physical Therapy, Mia Detomaso, Mind/Body Fitness, Mountain Home Center, MtnPostal Pack & Ship, My Thai Cuisine, Nate Toutolmin, Need2Speed, New Leaf Creations, Norm's Auto Repair, Nothing To It! Culinary Center, Off the Hook, Paradise Beauty Supply & Salon, Paradise Nails & Spa, Pier 39-SanFrancisco, Poe Rava Gem Co., Poke Rok, Primo's Italian Bistro, RC Willey, Rearview Miracles,Red's Old 395 Grill, Redwood Printing, Reno Local Food Group, Reno National Championship Air Races, Reno Rodeo, Revive Coffee & Wine, Rexanne Ring, Rick Giannini, Riva Grill on the Lake, Round Hill Pines Resort, Sacramento Zoo Foundation, San Francisco Giants, Saralyn Taormina, Seascape Golf Club, Sessions Salon, Sidestreet Boutique, Sierra Air, Inc, Sierra Sky Fiber Art, Sierra Wood Design, Ski Run Boat Company, Sonney's BBQ Shack & Grill, Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe Family Resource Center, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South of North Brewing Company, South Tahoe Now, South Tahoe Standup Paddle, Sports Ltd, Sprouts Natural Foods Cafe, StarBucks, Still Water Yoga, Sugar Pine Bakery, Summit to Shore Chiropractic - Darin Haworth, Sunridge Golf and Recreations, Susan Welch, Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema, Tahoe AleWorx, Tahoe Arts Project, Tahoe Best Friends, Tahoe Blue Vodka, Tahoe Cakes by Grace, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, Tahoe Dust and Shine, Tahoe Hair Company, Tahoe Heartbeat Apparel, Tahoe Keys Deli, Tahoe Love Bakery, Tahoe Oil & Spice, Tahoe Production House, Tahoe Sports & Entertainment, Tahoe Yoga Shala, Taqueria Jalisco, Taste of Europe, Ten Crows BBQ, The Bar Tahoe, The Canvas Café, The Forest, The Knitting Nest, The Lake House ,The Loft ,The New Wave Salon, The Polished Edge, The Studio Lake Tahoe, Things & Things & Things, Thunderbird Lake Tahoe, Todd Borg, Truckee Station, UCCE Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe, Valhalla Tahoe, Verde Mexican Rotisserie, Villa Toscano & Bella Piazza Wineries, West Shore Café, What A Girl Wants Boutique, Wild Coasts Photography, Wildwood Makers Market, William Downey, O.D., Yaples Ballroom, Yoga with Susan Glasson, Yogurt Beach, and Zawadisha.