It’s all about the chocolate
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Bullen Center on Main Street in Logan was filled to capacity Saturday, and it was all in the name of chocolate.
At the 18th annual Pro/Am Chocolate Festival Fund Raiser, donated desserts and other prizes from local businesses were auctioned off to supporters at the fund-raiser for Planned Parenthood.
The evening raised a total amount of $8,725.
Planned Parenthood is a national organization that provides birth control and reproductive health care at lower costs than most pharmacies. Every year it plans this dessert-based fund-raiser and gets many people involved.
The desserts were donated by members of the community and local businesses. Volunteers who managed the event and served food came from all over the valley. Most of them came from the middle and high schools in Cache Valley, said Sarah Weeks, who was in charge of volunteer work.
A large variety of different desserts went up for auction in the categories of cakes, brownies, cookies and chocolates.
Peggy Nuber, a yearly participant, made an entry titled “God Bless the Whole World – No Exceptions,” which was cookies made with different kinds of chocolate from other countries.
“I didn’t just want to make something yummy,” Nuber said. “I wanted to make a statement and support Planned Parenthood, too.”
There was more than one group of volunteers. Battle of the Unkind, a local band from Logan High, entertained the crowd while the silent auction and taste-testing were being held. Before they played music for it, though, they were still very involved.
“We volunteered here for a long time, like when we were kids,” said Will Munger, the guitarist of the band. “I’d say about a good seven years.”
According to Val Grant, the auctioneer at the event for the 18th time in a row, the fund-raiser has grown and there are more people attending every year.
“Every creation gets auctioned off,” Grant said, “and there are usually around 40-50 entries.”
At the live auction, the dessert that received the highest bid was the “Hazelnut Praline Mice,” a collection of mouse-shaped treats made of a praline-chocolate mix, with almonds for ears. It was the winner of the People’s Choice award and the Grand Prize award, and was sold for $900.
Among non-dessert items, the highest bid was for a Spanish Tapas and Wine package, which was sold for $900 as well.
Most of the entries went for a lesser amount, but were still at an above-average price. A “Canoli Caress” cake went for $250, and Amaretto Apricot kisses sold for $150. The average price of the deserts was about $200.
Not everyone who came that night participated in the live auction. Coupon books were sold at the entrance to attendees for $5, and every coupon was worth a sample of any dessert entry. Each coupon book held nine coupons.
“This is by far the best event in Logan I have been to,” said Andrea Severson, a freshman in fisheries and aquatic sciences. “What’s better than a night stuffing yourself full of chocolate for a good cause?”
-maripark@cc.usu.edu
This chocolate cake, entered in the auction was decorated with white frosting and strawberries cut to look like roses. The 18th Annual Pro/Am Chocolate Festival took place at the Bullen Art Center and featured chocolate confections of all kinds. (Photo by Jamie Crane)