Spent some time last night at TOUCH Restaurant in Springfield, MO hosting the 10th annual “Friday Night TV Dinner,” to benefit children’s programming on Ozarks Public Television. OPT reaches 50-thousand kids in Southwest Missouri each week with educational programming, through classic shows like Sesame Street, Electric Company and Curious George combined with current favorites like Sid the Science Kid, Dinosaur Train and more. Locally, Ozarks Public Television invests 25% of its annual budget on children’s programming ($500,000) – so events like these are crucial to off-setting that cost.
Thanks to the ongoing compassion of so many “Friday Night TV Dinner” regulars, the event itself has raised nearly $1-million for OPT over the past ten years – and last night was another big money making night; featuring amazing items and a unique wine selection in the silent auction…and blockbuster live auction items.
Several $1000 wine lots were auctioned, an exclusive tour of extensive wine cellars in Springfield, getaway packages to the Deloach Winery in Sonoma and the Raymond Winery in Napa, shopping sprees at Maxon’s Diamond Merchants and Town & County, an HD television with delivery and set-up from Southwest Audio Visual, a Lasik Vision Correction procedure from Mercy Clinic Eye Specialists, even a private whiskey tasting for 8 with a Jameson Ambassador at Touch Restaurant.
Donnie Stumpff of Stumpff Realty and Auction Service worked his magic again, driving high bids with his charisma, personality and charm – making it annother lucrative benefit for OPT. He’s truly a phenomenal auctioneer – authentic and real – and deserves a great deal of credit for the success of the event each year.
The biggest thanks goes to Hannah Combs and her team from Ozarks Public Television, Andy Kuntz of Andy’s Frozen Custard, Brad Feuerbacher of Brown Derby, and TOUCH Restaurant – for their vision, coordination and attention to detail…making the “Friday Night TV Dinner” one of the most exclsuive, fun and rewarding annual fundraisers for business leaders and families in Springfield.
Hope to see YOU at the 11th annual Friday Night TV Dinner!
