Valentine's Day Gift Idea

Do you recognize this iconic US comedian? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea

Recent surveys show people want experiences to mark special occasions so here is one for Valentine’s Day that provides an excellent experience for a good cause. Saturday, February 15, 2020 will be the 35th annual Rolla Cancer Gala, a yearly charity event to raise funds to help local cancer patients with costs associated with their care.

I can remember when this was a dinner and dance around Valentine’s Day for a hundred people or so at a local restaurant. If you remember Zeno’s Restaurant, they would cover the inside swimming pool to make the dance floor and spread paper hearts around the room for decor.

The annual charity event now calls for almost year of advance planning by a group of dedicated volunteers; seats 600 and is held at Missouri S&T’s Havener Center, the largest event venue in our town. They have a yearly fund-raising goal which now is more than $220,000.

The theme changes every year. I look forward to the mailed invitations that mark the event theme and Cancer Gala details since they are so creative. This year’s theme is based on an iconic US comedian still found in reruns on cable. Have you seen any of her shows?

Now do you recognize the theme of this charity dinner and dance? (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

In addition to being a charity benefit, the Cancer Gala offers an amazing gourmet dinner. This is the menu for this year’s Cancer Gala thanks to donations from US Foods and Price Chopper. The Havener Center staff go out of their way to make it memorable.

Here’s the menu, courtesy of US Foods and Price Chopper donations. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

You can reserve a table for up to 8 people, which can be fun if you’re a business and want to treat your employees to a special evening. This year they also have a new special event, limited edition Rumba Room passes for VIP access to a cash bar, which will be located in the Mark Twain room of Havener Center.

For the more adventurous attendees, tickets are currently being sold for a drawing for a trip for two to Aruba, underwritten by Andrew and Angela Miller. Tickets are $50 each. Winners will be announced the night of the Cancer Gala.

Make sure to pick up a couple of chances on trip tickets! (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

For those who want to pick up a memento or two, local businesses donate gift baskets, services and sometimes baseball tickets to the charity auction associated with the Cancer Gala. They make it easy to bid by having Give Smart, an online auction service running the tally and making winning items available for you to take home after you pay and before you leave.

And after all of that fun, there is dancing to live music from “Push the Limit” so you can treat your sweetheart to a lovely dinner and dance while supporting a good cause that keeps the donated funds local.

No special sweetheart this year? Not a problem, I have attended these dinners for years by myself and enjoyed seeing old friends. Dress is formal; black tie optional. I would not recommend this for children.

Tickets are $200/couple or $100 per person. Tickets sell fast, first come first served so if you’re interested, send your reservations as soon as you can to P. O. Box 1382 Rolla, Mo. 65402. You can also contact a Cancer Gala & Co. team through their Facebook page.

For you gentlemen who usually struggle with Valentine’s Day gift ideas - you’re welcome!

Charlotte