FORT WAYNE â With more than $500,000 raised in donations, Big Brothers Big Sistersâ recent gourmet dinner reached a record amount. The previous record of $428,000 was set two years ago. Last yearâs event was canceled because of the pandemic.
The 48th annual event was held June 22 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center with more than 850 people attending. The goal was to benefit the agency and its mission to help local children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one mentor relationships. Since its establishment in 1973, the Annual Gourmet Dinner has grown to be one of the areaâs premier charity events.
âHaving grown up in northeast Indiana and come back, Iâm thankful for and proud of the generosity of the individuals and businesses in northeast Indiana,â said event chairman Bill Schenkel of IU Health. âTheir unwavering support is what makes our community so great. The year 2020 brought a lot of uncertainty with it, but the support for Big Brothers Big Sisters still remains.â