Goal of 'Taste of the Lakes, Art Auction' is to raise $25,000

BREEZY POINT -- Kinship Partners of Brainerd hopes to raise $25,000 for its area youth mentor programs at this year's "Taste of the Lakes and Art Auction," said director Pat Johnston.

An annual event, the gala fund raiser features gourmet food prepared by area chefs and the sale of dozens of donated art pieces.

It is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Breezy Point Resort's Convention Center.

The event -- sold out in each of the last three years -- raised about $22,000 for Kinship Partner's youth mentor programs last year, Johnston said in a recent news release.

"The goal is set at $25,000 this year," she said.

Tickets are $40 per person and are available by calling 829-4606, 568-4015 or 546-7308.

Twenty chefs from lakes area restaurants are participating in this year's Taste of the Lakes, and 75 artists have donated pieces for the auction, the news release said.

Kathy Gaalswyk, president of the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls, will serve as honorary chair and master of ceremonies at the event.

The foundation provided financial assistance to Kinship Partners earlier this year for a promotional drive to recruit adult mentors for young people, the release said.

Rob Teal, a pianist, and a trio of string players from Brainerd High School will provide the entertainment.

Participating restaurants include Market Place, Antlers, Black Bear Lodge, Breezy Point Resort, Butcher Block Steak House, Green Mill, Kavanaugh's, Kelly's, Lost Lake Lodge, Nisswa Grille, Piney Ridge Lodge, Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge, Scheela's Shanty, Sibley Station and Smokey Hollow Fish Co.

Wine tasting will be provided by Esser's Warehouse Liquors and Rolfing Supply.

Ticket holders will feast on a wide variety of gourmet food and participate in the bidding for paintings, sculptures, carvings, glass items, pottery and cloth pieces donated by 75 artists, the release said.

"The children and their mentors also get involved in the art auction by making art and craft items together that are offered for sale at the event," Johnston said.

Many of these items are made from kits provided by the Brainerd Service League, she said.

"A perennial hit at the art auction is the fish print items that the children make at a Kinship Partners activity led by Carolyn Macy, who is renowned in the area for her expertise with fish printing," Johnston said.

"All money raised by the event will go to Kinship Partners' mentor program to recruit, screen and match volunteers with children in need of a friend and role model," Johnston added.

Fifty boys and girls are on the waiting list for adult partners, she said.