Chocoholics unite for fundraiser

The 17th annual Valentine Pro/Am Chocolate Festival on Saturday night was a tasty hit for Cache Valley residents.

The festival, held at the Bullen Arts Center in Logan, included chocolate confections of all kinds, a live and silent auction and even a band playing some rock ‘n’ roll.

The fundraiser for Planned Parenthood of Cache Valley brought nearly 300 people.

Angie Thompson, who works for Planned Parenthood, said this is the largest fundraiser for Planned Parenthood in Cache Valley and one of the largest for the organization in Utah. Planned Parenthood, a national nonprofit organization, is devoted to offering services in reproductive health care. It’s something where people can come for help and know everything is confidential, Thompson said.

For the fundraiser, Thompson was working at the desk at the entrance where the chocolate sample coupon books were sold for $5 each.

“[The fundraiser] supports something that’s needed in our community,” she said.

Joey Harrison, who graduated from Utah State University in computer science last year, said it was his first time at the festival.

“Everyone likes chocolate, and it’s good to support Planned Parenthood,” he said.

Angie Baker, a volunteer serving samples, said she was surprised to see the turnout in a conservative town.

“There’s so many people in Logan that support Planned Parenthood,” she said.

The event had tables set up with different entries and their samples. There were both professional and amateur desserts. The amateur categories ranged from cakes, chocolates, brownies and more. There was also a separate parent/child team category.

Carly Wheelwright, a senior majoring in family human development, said the chocolate-covered pretzels were her favorite.

“Chocolate is a great way to bring any event together,” said Wheelwright, a first-time attendee.

The sampling and the live band played from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and then the tables were moved and chairs were set up for prizes and the live auction.

Some of the prize-winning confections had clever names like the brownies “Weapons of Mass Seduction” and “Orange You Glad Cheesecake.”

However, items that were auctioned off were not limited to deserts. They included things like Spanish wine tasting for eight, dinner at the White Owl plus a taxi ride, a spa package, two hours of blues, rock and reggae music for any party by the band Corporate Hero, which had played earlier in the night.

And all items were auctioned off for no small donation. Think $300 is a lot for a chocolate mousse cake? How about $850 for a plate of chocolate truffles or $350 for an assortment of chocolate caramel apples or $450 for an Indian dinner for four?

Val Grant, an original Planned Parenthood board member in Cache Valley, was the auctioneer and has been since the beginning of the Chocolate Festival.

He said it’s a wonderful crowd of people that showed up for the event.

“It’s a nice slice of Cache Valley society,” he said.

-joefeathers@cc.usu.edu