Hospitality House to hold 5th annual 'Millionaires Party'

Lakes area residents need not look beyond the boundaries of their own communities to help feed the hungry. To meet this need, the Hospitality House Food Pantry is hosting its largest fundraiser of the year on Saturday, April 30.

“The money raised is used for purchasing food for local families in need that can be bought for just under 35 cents a pound,” said Hospitality House Director Kristy Hutson.

The 5th annual “Millionaires Party and Silent Auction” event will be held at 6 p.m. at Edgewood Country Club, located on Commerce Road in Commerce Township. Tickets are $35 per person and include heavy appetizers and desserts. A cash bar will be available and a DJ will be cranking out tunes.

The theme this year, “Those Were the Days,” was selected so patrons can dress in garb from an era of their choice. There will be prizes awarded for the best and craziest costumes.

One of the gala’s highlights is casino gaming, where patrons can try their hand at blackjack, roulette, and Texas hold ‘em poker.

Several auctions will be held, including a live auction where people will vie for small- to big-ticket items. Some of the items include a dinner for eight package where the winner creates a gourmet menu with the fund-raising planning team. This item is valued between $500 and $1,000.

Patrons can also bid on a travel destination package, where the recipient picks the vacation spot from a list that includes Maui, Aruba, Mexico, or Las Vegas. This item is worth about $2,500.

Other deals include but are not limited to: massage certificates; dinner certificates; golf packages and accessories; household items; landscaping accessories; jewelry; and more.

Various raffles including a 50/50 drawing will also be held. As an added bonus, the fund-raising committee will be raffling off a pair of large barrels filled with wine varietals.

All event proceeds benefit Hospitality House.

Last year the event raised over $14,000, according to Hospitality House co-founder and event leader Pam Janson.

“In a tough economy, people were extremely generous,” Janson said. “The event is always a great evening of fun with dollars going toward a super cause to feed our community. That’s what’s most important.”

Hospitality House opened its doors in 2001 and has grown to an annual budget of $300,000, feeding between 700 and 800 families per month.

Hospitality House is still looking for event sponsors, donors and guests. Contact Janson at hospitalityhouseevents@gmail.com for more information or call 248-960-9975.