YOUR AD HERE »

Harper Lee books auctioned for Partners in Routt County’s Java & Jazz fundraiser

Teresa Ristow

If you go:

What: Java & Jazz fundraiser for Partners in Routt County

When: 5:30 p.m. Friday, August 28

Where: Larson Barn, Highway 131

Cost: $60 for one, $100 for two

— This year’s Java & Jazz fundraiser for Partners in Routt County will feature a unique auction item from author Harper Lee.

Lee, through a connection with a Partners board member, has donated a 50th anniversary edition of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and a first edition of her latest book, “Go Set a Watchman.” The books will each be signed and auctioned off as a pair via http://www.32auctions.com/tkam4prc beginning next week.

“We are super excited about them,” said Michelle Petix, executive director of Partners in Routt County. “We’re really hopeful this creates some excitement.”



The books are autographed as “Nelle Harper Lee,” Lee’s full name and a more rare way for her to sign books, Petix said.

The books will be at the Java & Jazz Fundraiser, Partners’ signature fundraising event, taking place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Larson Barn.



Tickets for the event are $100 for two people or $60 for one and can be purchased on the Partners website, at their office in Sundance Plaza or at the event.

Money raised through the event will help support Partners programs, which include one-on-one and school-based mentoring programs for local youth.

The event will also include a silent auction with items from local businesses, including Catamount Golf Club, Steamboat Ski Resort, Ferrell Gas, Big Agnes and Old Town Hot Springs, as well as gift certificates and packages from other businesses. The event will feature food, wine and other drinks and live music by Tera Johnson and Friends.

Petix said fundraising at this year’s event is particularly important, given that the organization learned recently it wasn’t the recipient of a five-year government grant it has relied upon the past several years.

Partners was seeking a five-year grant worth nearly $500,000 from the Office of Behavioral Health, but the agency chose to fund other organizations.

“They only have so many people they fund, and we didn’t make the cut,” Petix said.

Partners is hopeful it might receive funding from another grant, Petix said, but in the meantime, the group had to stall programs, including lunchtime and peer mentoring.

Petix said being denied for the grant shouldn’t reflect negatively on the organization.

“We’re doing awesome work, and we have more need than ever,” she said.

The Java & Jazz fundraiser typically draws longtime supporters of Partners, which celebrates its 20th year in 2016, but Petix said new faces are always welcome.

Supporters who are unable to attend the event can make donations to Partners by visiting partnersrouttcounty.com, contacting Petix at michelle@partnersrouttcounty.org or calling 970-879-6141 ext. 302.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.