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Brewery Fundraiser Set for February 4th
Brewery Fundraiser Set For February 4th
by Jennifer Davis
POTOSI, Wis. - The first annual Potosi Brewery Foundation Restoration Fund Banquet will be held on Monday Feb. 4, at Sunset Hall in Dickeyville with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and dinner being served at 7 p.m.
When the fundraiser was conceived, the committee, which is made up of members of the foundation's board of directors, as well as volunteers, had to set a limit of 332 persons who could attend the banquet Never did they imagine that a month before the actual fundraiser they would be sold out of tickets. As of Monday morning the Journal was told that all of the tickets were sold, but committee members did remark that there could be a few still out there that they are unaware of since each member took a number of tickets to sell on his or her own.
In an attempt to save the Potosi Brewery and reopen it as a tourist attraction, a non-profit organization called the Potosi Brewery Foundation was formed in February of 2000.
Although this fundraiser is one of many which has already been done, it is the largest yet, according to Frank Fiorenza, member of the committee.
All of the money raised at the banquet will go back to the brewery. Fiorenza explained that the foundation has received a $150,000 grant from the state, but $120,000 of that needs to be matched. If, for example the group raises $30,000 from this fundraiser it will be applied to the matching fund, and will double the revenue making it possible to actually do some work on the brewery.
Fiorenza remarked that with this money they hope to pay for the second half of the new 35 foot wall that is being put up this spring and put a roof on the front section of the brewery, as well as new windows and doors.
Each ticket for the banquet is $50 and gets the ticketholder two replica Holiday beer glasses, a meal and chances to win a door prize of one of seven Remington 870 Express Shotguns. Fiorenza said that there will be additional gun packages raffled off throughout the evening including a Ducks Unlimited Luger shotgun. The Emcee for the evening will be Doug Wagen, and the auctioneer will be Gary Bell. Both are volunteering their time.
During the evening there will be a number of raffle packages available, as well as a silent auction and a live auction with about 20 items each. Some of the items will be limited edition prints by nationally known artists such as Terry Redlin, Darrell Bush, and Greg Alexander, prints from local artists Terry Downs and Roger Scholbrock, stained glass items, a jewelry package, sports package, golf clubs, hand sewn quilts, and baby afghans and quilts.
There will also be a separate raffle drawn that evening for a Polaris 325 Magnum ATV. The tickets for this raffle are available at area businesses in Potosi, Platteville, Dickeyville, and Lancaster. The ATV was donated by Tandem Tire, Bob Friesen Plumbing and Heating, Snyder Motor Sports and DeWayne Bierman as a joint prize.
For those who are not able to attend the banquet and still want to help the Brewery Foundation there is a sponsor category available. People can sponsor at four levels, $100, $250, $500, and $ 1,000. Each sponsor will receive a gift depending on the level they are at and in the end all of the sponsors will be put into a special drawing for a limited edition print of the brewery, which is one of 50 available; included is a special stamp and original uncirrculated Potosi beer label.
"We are extremely pleased with the response we have gotten for both this project and fundraiser, not only from Potosi, but area wide. This project is a benefit for all of southwestern Wisconsin because it will help bring people to the area who will not just visit the brewery, but other tourist sites as well," said Fiorenza.
Anyone wishing to become a sponsor for the brewery fundraiser should contact Fiorenza, Sharon Bierman or Larry Kalina.
©2002 The Platteville Journal
