https://www.fvsef.org https://www.fvsef.org/2025-showcase-of-the-chefs-a-great-success <div data-rss-type="text"> <h3> <strong> Whitefish Community Rallies to make Showcase of the Chefs a Great Success </strong> </h3> </div> <div> <img src="https://irp.cdn-website.com/db499dbe/dms3rep/multi/Chefs1.jpg"/> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <span> <span> A strong showing from athletes, families, and local businesses helped make this year’s Showcase of the Chefs a resounding success, raising nearly </span> </span> <strong> $97,000 </strong> <span> <span> to support athletes and programs—most notably the team’s scholarship fund. </span> </span> </p> <p> <span> <span> The evening generated </span> </span> <strong> just over $36,000 for scholarships alone </strong> <span> <span> , ensuring continued access to training and competition opportunities for athletes regardless of financial barriers. In total, the </span> </span> <strong> live and silent auctions raised more than $46,000 </strong> <span> <span> , while </span> </span> <strong> ticket sales brought in approximately $15,000 </strong> <span> <span> and </span> </span> <strong> raffles contributed another $5,000 </strong> <span> . Final expenses are still being tallied, but organizers expect the net total to remain close to that impressive figure. </span> </p> <p> <span> <span> One of the most talked-about moments of the night came from the </span> </span> <strong> Haines heli-ski trip raffle </strong> <span> <span> (a separate fundraiser for the Flathead Freeride Club), which was won by a local woman, Jennifer Alexander, who purchased the ticket as a surprise for her husband, a retiring local ski patroller and fire fighter—an especially fitting win that drew cheers from the crowd. </span> </span> </p> <p> <span> The event was powered by a true team effort. Athletes were on hand throughout the night helping with raffles and logistics, while parents filled essential roles including check-in and check-out, auction item running, guest greeting, table decorating, and both setup and cleanup. The auction’s success was further fueled by generous donations from parents and local businesses, whose support formed the backbone of the live and silent offerings. </span> </p> <p> <span> <span> Two individuals in particular were instrumental in bringing the event together. </span> </span> <strong> Cari Klepper </strong> <span> <span> coordinated ticketing software, worked closely with participating restaurants and the Lodge, and managed the overall guest experience, while </span> </span> <strong> Tori Marcial </strong> <span> <span> oversaw the auction software, collected and entered items, and organized and managed the physical auction display. </span> </span> <strong> Kevin Klepper </strong> <span> <span> added a personal touch by handling the bid paddles, helping keep the evening running smoothly. </span> </span> </p> <p> <span> <span> The night was expertly guided by </span> </span> <strong> MC Bill Tomblin </strong> <span> <span> and </span> </span> <strong> auctioneer Joe Werner </strong> <span> <span> , who kept energy high and bids climbing. Among the standout moments, a </span> </span> <strong> Whitefish Mountain Resort parking pass sold for $11,000 </strong> <span> <span> , underscoring the generosity of attendees. The popular </span> </span> <strong> Heads or Tails </strong> <span> <span> game once again ended with a familiar winner </span> </span> <strong> Kent Taylor </strong> <span> <span> , who took home a pair of </span> </span> <strong> Head Kore 104 skis </strong> <span> —marking what many joked was his third consecutive year winning after purchasing numerous chances. </span> </p> <p> <span> Organizers expressed deep gratitude for everyone who contributed their time, resources, and enthusiasm. The evening not only exceeded fundraising expectations but also showcased the strength of a community united around supporting young athletes and the future of the local ski program. </span> <span> . </span> </p> </div> Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:51:38 GMT https://www.fvsef.org/2025-showcase-of-the-chefs-a-great-success thumbnail main image https://www.fvsef.org/what-to-do-in-a-tree-well <div data-rss-type="text"> <h3> <span> All Mountain Ranger Head Coach Dave Fischlowitz talks with long time Whitefish Mountain Resort patroller about treewells </span> </h3> </div> <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5FjUzOSYDpg&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"> Check out this video about treewell safety! </a> </p> </div> Thu, 14 Mar 2024 01:59:01 GMT https://www.fvsef.org/what-to-do-in-a-tree-well thumbnail main image