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Hayden gala Saturday helps fund school programs

Ben Ingersoll

— On Saturday night, Hayden Secondary Schools will host its annual fundraiser gala, which helps financially support a number of student organizations and activities.

The third annual gala will start at 5:30 p.m. in Exhibit Hall at the Routt County Fairgrounds. A spaghetti dinner will be served, a DJ will play music and an auctioneer will call out a number of donated items up for grabs.

Hayden Athletic Director Mark Clarke said the gala is a big help for groups like the speech and debate team, band and Future Business Leaders of America. It also outfits Tigers athletic teams and supports upgrades to facilities.



This year’s big project is replacing the weathered goalposts at the high school football field, so students and coaches have been going door to door and visiting local businesses to sell gala tickets. A sizable portion of the replacement cost have been collected through donations, but Clarke is hoping Saturday’s event will push the project through and aid other school needs.

“We don’t really say, ‘OK, we want this amount of money,’” Clarke said. “We have needs, and whatever we get, we will address the most extreme need and work down the list.”



Clarke estimated the goalposts’ replacement would cost about $2,200, but travel and event expenses for school programs rely heavily on the gala, as well.

This weekend, the speech and debate team is heading to Aspen for competition, a trip for which the athletic department is likely to shell out about $600, Clarke said.

It’s a community effort, and turnout is expected to be pretty high.

“I think it’s an opportunity to bring our community together to support our school,” Clarke said. “We’re going to have 200 or 300 people there. It’s a good thing for us.”

The spaghetti dinner and silent auction start at 5:30 p.m. The live auction starts at 7 p.m. Adult tickets are $10, children younger than 12 are $5 and children younger than 5 are free.

To reach Ben Ingersoll, call 970-871-4204, email bingersoll@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @BenMIngersoll


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