Holly Eve carries tradition to new facility

SANDPOINT - As the federal deficit tags $1 trillion and government officials announce that even $700 billion won't be quite enough to cover a bank bailout, a mere $1 million may not sound like a lot of cash anymore.

When a million bucks goes straight into the local community, however, it has a powerful and positive effect.

Witness Holly Eve - an annual fundraising gala that, since 1981, has managed to touch the heart of Sandpoint by supporting the arts, education and the myriad organizations that make this a nice place to call home.

This year, Holly Eve is projected move past the cumulative $1 million fundraising mark as it moves into its 28th year with a new location - the top-floor auditorium of the Sandpoint Business & Events Center, better known to locals as the former Sandpoint High School building.

On Sat., Nov. 22, Holly Eve will roll out the red carpet for an evening of gourmet food, live and silent auction items and top-notch entertainment, with its usual goal of raising funds for local organizations.

The night will feature what Sabella called "the world premiere of the Sandpoint Youth Orchestra" - a group formed this fall with support from the Festival at Sandpoint, which, not coincidentally, has been a longtime beneficiary of Holly Eve support.

"We've been waiting a long time for this," Sabella said.

"For the first time in decades, Sandpoint has a youth orchestra again."

Other entertainment will be provided by the harp duo, Harps 2 Go, Danceworks & Co., the Sandpoint High School Men's Choir and the school's Performing Choir.

Guests will be greeted at the red carpet by Mayor Gretchen Hellar and treated to complimentary hors d'oeuvres from 18 local restaurants and champagne or sparkling water from Bill Jones Distributors.

Despite a challenging economy, Sabella has pulled together another impressive list of auction items for this year's event, partly due to a broad-based list of contributors.

"We don't rely on just a few heavy donors," she said. "Sandpoint is the most generous community and the beauty of this event is that so many people come together and do whatever they can."

For the past couple of seasons, Holly Eve has raised about $60,000 in annual ticket sales and auction proceeds. This year, the fundraiser will benefit three arts organizations - the Panida Theater, The Festival at Sandpoint and the Pend Oreille Arts Council - along with Community Cancer Services and Bonner Community Hospice.

"In 2007, we also gave funds to Sandpoint Head Start, which has finished its building restoration project," Sabella said.

The event founder pointed out that Head Start and the new location for the holiday gala sit on facing corners, drawing attention to the fact that both historic structures have recently undergone significant restoration.

"It just had to happen," she said. "Sandpoint needs its classic buildings and moving Holly Eve to the events center is really an acknowledgement of the wonderful job they've done in saving this historic place."

The new venue provides more room for silent auction items, as well as easier audience access in the auditorium area, Sabella said. All of the evening's activities will take place on the third floor, which is easily accessible by elevator or the original stairways that led the way to class for generations of students at the school.

And while she will miss the Panida - the one local cause that has benefited more than any other from Holly Eve largesse, which has helped fund a stage extension, dressing rooms, roof repairs, carpeting, a grand piano and, last year, a hefty payment toward the purchase of the adjacent Panida Little Theater - the event's popularity finally demanded more space.

"We have loved being in the Panida all this time," Sabella said, "but we've kind of outgrown the theater as far as the amount of room we need."  

Brad and Lynda Scott, the Sandpoint couple behind the renovation of the old brick high school building, first discussed hosting Holly Eve in 2007, but had too many projects left undone and agreed with Sabella that it would be better for everyone involved if they waited until the following season to join forces.

"We tried to get it ready for last year but it just wasn't quite there yet," Brad Scott said. "Marilyn has got a reputation for holding an elegant event and we weren't ready for something like that a year ago."

Since that first encounter, though, the Scotts have worked non-stop on the completion of the building, with Holly Eve as a motivating factor along the way.

"We can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel and we're real pleased," said Brad. "We pushed hard and got the north parking lot done and we're just completing the landscaping, so that has allowed us to move back inside to finalize the backstage arch and put the last few finishing touches on the auditorium."

Tickets for Holly Eve are $25, although those who "want to help the cause a little bit more" can become involved as Holly Eve Angels, with silver, gold and platinum levels offering two, four, or six tickets at the price of $100, $200 or $300 respectively.

Those who would like to participate as Holly Eve Angels or donate silent auction items can contact Sabella at 263-8956.