Show goes on for Black Tie Blue Jeans

The show went on March 14 for the annual Black Tie Blue Jeans fundraiser in Whitehall.

According to Kristi Wilson of the Whitehall Chamber, organizers are very thankful the event was not a day later as they would have had to shut it down.

"It was nice to forget what we all knew was coming for one last evening and come together for the betterment of our community," she said.

As far as attendance, Wilson feels COVID-19 did affect the final attendance of the largest local fundraiser of the year.

"We were on track to have more than 150 in attendance this year and Saturday morning that quickly dropped close to 100. We made a lot of phone calls and invited people on donated tickets and the final attendance was close to 120," she said.

Organizers were geared up for one of their best auctions in event history with many items described as "experiences" as well as a lot of new items. Wilson said the auction still did okay, adding if the numbers had been there, they would have made significantly more.

Black Tie Blue Jeans 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 on an 85%/15% basis, with the JVCF providing the fiscal sponsorship with their 501c3 status.

Wilson said COVID-19 has put a delay on any grant discussion as everyone tends to more time-sensitive things at their own jobs/businesses, but they will be getting information out about those as soon as we are able to regroup.

"It is possible that those discussions will take place via video conference if this new normal goes on more than a couple weeks," she said.