Denim and diamonds abound at annual Moses Lake chamber fundraiser
Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald The items were many to bid on during the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Denim and Diamonds’ fundraiser Friday night.
Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald The items were many to bid on during the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Denim and Diamonds’ fundraiser Friday night.
Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald Stuff for men. Stuff for women. Stuff for kids. Stuff for all of the above categories of people were up for bid during the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Denim and Diamonds’ fundraiser Friday night.
Richard Byrd/Columbia Basin Herald The tough decision of what to bid on and how much to bid was a process that wasn’t taken lightly by attendees at Friday night’s fundraiser in Moses Lake.
Moses Lake — Peanut butter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Pen (or pencil) and paper. We all know those things typically go together hand-in-hand, but it looks like, in Moses Lake anyway, denim and diamonds very well might be the next addition to the list of inseparable pairs that will always be bound together.
It just so happened that perfect relationship was on full display Friday night at the Pillar Rock Grill where the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce (MLCC) held its annual dinner and auction. The event, dubbed “Denim and Diamonds,” was a full on spectacle of community members gathered in their best denim to have a good time and support the MLCC as well.
“We do that (denim and diamonds) same theme every year. People like it because they can get dressed up if they like, or they can be in their jeans. It’s whatever they are comfortable wearing,” chamber Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez explained.
Denim and Diamonds is one of a few events the chamber puts on throughout the year and is the only auction the chamber does. Going into the fundraiser each year, the MLCC has an idea in mind of how to use the raised funds. Typically the event raises between $15,000-$20,000, with this year’s funds to be allocated to account for parking problems at the MLCC office.
“We have very limited parking out front and then we have some parking in the back in the city’s parking lot, but we have to walk across the grass to get into the building. You know, drive across the grass if we are having to offload stuff in and out of the office,” Doran-Martinez stated.
Attendees at Friday night’s fundraiser were treated to a silent and a live auction, raffle prizes, dinner, drinks and the comedic stylings of comedian Duane Goad. Typically the MLCC will have a band perform at the fundraiser, but the chamber recently conducted a survey of its members and they, almost overwhelmingly, voiced support for bringing in a comedian to perform.
“We watched all kinds of videos of comedians and whatnot and we kind of honed in on him and he was available so we got him.”
A total amount raised at the fundraiser was not available before the Herald’s weekend press time.
Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.