Black Tie Blue Jeans fundraiser April 28

The Whitehall area community will come together for a great cause this weekend at the 14th annual Black Tie Blue Jeans fundraiser.

The event will take place Saturday, April 28 at the Whitehall Community Center and has a pre Kentucky Derby theme of "Hats & Horses".

According to BTBJ committee member Jill Dove, tickets sales have been going good and have exceeded the number sold in 2017. Dove did however state there are still some tickets available. The tickets can be purchased at the Corner Store.

The largest local fundraiser of the year, this years BTBJ will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the opening of the silent auction and a cocktail hour. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m., followed by the live auction at 8:15 p.m.

The Whitehall Chamber and JVCF have used over $170,000 of the funds raised at the event to support the programs, events, and volunteer organizations that benefit Whitehall and the Jefferson Valley. The BTBJ committee will grant money to several local non-profits and the remaining proceeds will be divided between the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson Valley Community Foundation (85% and 15%).

In the past, the Chamber has used the money to support non-profit groups and events like the Christmas Stroll, Frontier Days, and Shakespeare in the Park.

The JVCF proceeds will be put in their Endowment and Administrative Funds to support the current and future needs of the community. Proceeds from the JVCF Endowment Fund have resulted in $126,857 in grants to 37 non-profit organizations that support the local community. In October of 2017, the JVCF awarded nine grants to local non-profits for a total of $18,794 at a special ceremony at the Borden's Building.

JVCF Co-Chair Millie Baycroft said it was the most money they have awarded in 16 years and the endowment fund has grown to just under $235,000.

The 13th annual BTBJ event in 2017 was a success, with over $27,000 being awarded to local organizations with around $19,880 going to the Whitehall Chamber, and around $3,500 will go to the Jefferson Valley Community Foundation.

Committee members awarded nine grants with the proceeds from 2017. The Whitehall Senior Center ($250), Whitehall Transportation ($250), P.U.L.S.E. ($250), VFW ($150), American Legion ($150), Whitehall Community Center ($1,000), Cardwell School ($500), Love Inc. ($250) and the Whitehall Community ($250) were selected to receive grants in 2017.

The 2018 sponsor is the Barrick Golden Sunlight Mine. Gold sponsors are the River Ranch (Ruth Lott), Wizco, Western Veterinary Service, Rocky Mountain Bank and Jefferson Fresh Foods.

The master of ceremonies for the event is Jefferson County Events Coordinator Bruce Binkowski.