e.a.t.s. Raises Money for Scholarships
e.a.t.s. XII will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Imagine sampling food from 50 different chefs and in doing so creating university scholarships. That’s what e.a.t.s. (educational assistance through scholarships) is all about. Since 1997, guests have gathered on the Menasha campus of the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley to sample wonderfully creative dishes prepared entirely by a corps of 50 volunteer chefs in an evening filled with food, music, entertainment and a silent auction.
Veteran celebrity chefs have included former Menasha Mayor Joe Laux, Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna, State Representative Steve Wieckert (Appleton) Bonita Favre, Brett Favre’s mother, and Congressman Dr. Steve Kagen. These and others have become perennial celebrity chefs. Professional chefs from local restaurants showcase their talents and contribute their delicacies too.
The annual event is developed and managed by a team of volunteers from within the board of the UWFox Foundation, the campus’ faculty, staff and students, and the community.
The main corridor of UWFox is transformed through decorations and special lighting, basking the 
dozens of chefs and their serving tables in the kind of ambient light that stimulates conversations, food sampling, wine sipping, and a delightful evening. e.a.t.s is one of those special evening events that has become a tradition and highlight of the fall in the Fox Cities.
For those guests (of legal age) with an interest in savoring some fine wines and brews, Flanagans Wine Review--a fine dining establishment connected to a full-service beverage retailer in Appleton--supplies a wide selection of complimentary gourmet wines. Additionally, the Stone Cellar Brew Pub Inc., an Appleton-based brewery, has annually provided a generous assortment of beers to sample.
Entertainment abounds at the annual event. Three different areas of the campus showcase numerous musicians and musical groups. Performers play jazz, classical, and soft vocal arrangements.
UWFox Foundation Board member and 2008 e.a.t.s. chairperson Bav Harrington describes the event as “a one-of-a-kind opportunity to sample delectable foods, beverages, and music while ‘shopping’ an amazing array of silent auction items. And all for the benefit of students!”
“The success of the past eleven e.a.t.s. events are remarkable because many of the same community chefs return year after year to volunteer their talented skills as ‘chefs for a night.’ They believe in the mission of the event and enjoy the feeling of community that permeates the entire evening,” Roger Van Vreede, past e.a.t.s chairperson explained.
“We have a vibrant institution with remarkable professors and staff. The UW-Fox Valley Foundation feels rewarded with each additional student it can send to UWFox because of the money raised by e.a.t.s.,” he said. Since 1997, more than $350,000 has been raised for the campus’ scholarship program.
Joyce Bytof, former UWFox Foundation Board Chair and another former e.a.t.s. chairperson offered her point of view, “When I look back and compare what we achieved, with where we started from, we’ve done great,” she beamed. “We’ve fulfilled the dreams that we had with the first e.a.t.s.”
Bytof had two sons and several grandchildren who went to school at UWFox, “I feel so good about the campus and the things it does for students.“
“The more people that we expose to UWFox, the more people will want to take advantage of all that this campus has to offer. It’s so much fun to see people of all ages come to this event.”
e.a.t.s. XI was held on October 13, 2007 at UWFox. Over 350 guests and volunteers enjoyed remarkable food and drink, a silent auction, a raffle, music, socializing and a very festive evening.
Special Thanks to Our Outstanding Sponsors
Diamond ($5,000 and Above)
- Campus Leasing Solutions - Patrick & Alison Keenen
- Community First Credit Union
Gold ($2,500~$4,999)
- Time Warner Cable
Silver ($1,000~$2,499)
- Avenue Jewelers
- Bassett Mechanical
- McCarty Law LLP
- N.E.W. Printing
- Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc.
- U.S. Oil Company, Inc.
Bronze ($500~$999)
- Air Wisconsin
- Citizen Bank
- First National Bank Fox Valley
- Oscar J. Boldt Construction
- Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company
- Miron Construction
- Silton, Seifert, Carlson & Gamble, S.C.
- United Healthcare
- Van Vreede's Appliance, Electronics & Furniture
- Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. - Fox Cities
Media Sponsor
- The Post-Crescent
For more information about the UWFox Foundation, or e.a.t.s. 2007, please call 920-832-2849.