The E Plans Seriously Fun Fundraising Bash
The Emerald Foundation was established in 2011 by Joe Beseker, and in 2016, the organization bought the former Jewish Community Center at 2120 Oregon Pike. Since purchasing the building, now called the Emerald Foundation Community Campus or just The E, the organization has not held a fundraiser. Instead, the foundation has operated a plethora of programs, including Autumn's Food Pantry, esports clubs for students, and Operation Emerald, which provided PPE to first responders and others during COVID-19.
In June, however, The E will host its first fundraiser in the building - a Triple Crown Bash. Executive director Martha Beseker said that the fundraiser was so named for its timing close to the final race of the Triple Crown. "It's happening right before the Belmont Stakes," she noted. The Bash will be held at The E on Friday, June 10, at 6 p.m. The event will include dinner, cocktails, live music, and both live and silent auctions in addition to a few surprise activities. Auction items will include ballroom and gym rental packages, a billboard rental, and the use of a private residence in Orlando for a vacation. The fully wired playhouse that can be seen in front of The E will also go up for bids. Silent auction baskets will have horse racing themes.
The E, which includes a fully upgraded kitchen along with improved HVAC and Wi-Fi, among other improvements, has been home to a number of area nonprofits, which were encouraged to interact with each other and with programs held in the building. Members of a Rise and Shine program for individuals with intellectual disabilities helped with Autumn's Food Pantry or with an after-school program.
One program that continues to be active at the site, along with the food pantry, is the Lift Zone, a room created in partnership with Comcast. "We agree to provide a setting (with computers) for kids to come after school if they need a quiet space (with high-speed internet)," said Suzy Kettler-Zeigler, building/operations director with the Emerald Foundation.
Esports, which engages students at 80 schools in clubs that use gaming to educate, slipped easily into a virtual format. "This is really our flagship program," said Beseker, who noted that the program is nondiscriminatory and offers special incentives to help keep students in school. Kettler-Zeigler added that the program also helps students explore career fields such as graphic design, videography, and team strategies.
With esports as a focus, The E is poised to move forward without changing the organization's foundational mission. "Our core values have stayed the same," said Beseker. "We engage, enrich, and empower everyone. Those are the four Es," she explained. "Our mission is to support education, focus on youth, and promote health, safety, and awareness in surrounding community."
"We hope to expand that in other ways to serve the community," said Kettler-Zeigler, who noted that the facility is available for use by local organizations and that nonprofits receive a discounted rate.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Triple Crown Bash. To learn about sponsorships or purchase tickets, visit https://emeralde.org/event/tcbash/ or call 717-449-4733.
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