Staff writer
With tickets priced at $50 per person, “Warrior Steak Out,” a new fundraiser featuring a steak feast and student entertainment will fire up in February for the benefit of USD 408.
If all goes according to plan, the event also may help usher in a new approach to school fundraisers in the future.
“This is the first time ever,” Marion parent Stephanie Kraus said. “We are pretty excited about it. The ticket price sounds high but people have to realize it is a fundraiser. It is going to be a very nice banquet.”
Stephanie Kraus is not a member of PAC but her husband, Nick Kraus, is a Marion school board member, and all their children attend or will attend Marion schools. After suggesting the idea, she was asked to organize the event.
“Other fundraisers might not be as efficient in their use of patrons’ dollars,” Nick Kraus said. “With the Warrior Steak Out, every dollar raised will go into the school. None of it will go back to the sponsors.”
He said steaks would be a quality cut, not a “junk old cheap steak.”
Money raised will help complete fundraising efforts for a new playground at Marion Elementary School, which is rapidly approaching its goal.
The equipment has already been purchased with an “advance” from USD 408.
“Everybody is sick and tired of talking about the playground,” Nick Kraus said. “We think this will the final one and we can quit bugging people about it.”
Stephanie Kraus said another goal is to make the fundraiser a success so other school clubs can benefit, too.
“So many of clubs do a lot of small fundraisers all year long,” she said. “This fundraiser would help with that.”
The hope is to reach a different group of people who don’t already donate, Nick Kraus said.
Superintendent Lee Leiker said he was in favor of trying new ways to accomplishing district goals.
“If it is successful, then I believe we might be able to reduce the number of fund raising activities that occur throughout the year,” Leiker said. “Once we see the degree of success of the Warrior Steak Out, we will be better able to plan for this type of fund raising in the future.”
As a show of support, Marion Advancement Campaign offered the use of the community building free, Stephanie Kraus said.
Starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 4, dinner will be a banquet-style meal with choice rib eye steaks or chicken, corn or green beans, a side salad, baked potato, roll, dessert, and a drink.
“Child care and a meal for the kids are free,” Stephanie Kraus said.
Children’s meals will be a hotdog, chips, cookie, and a drink.
Stephanie Kraus and Marion resident Jenile Taylor will be doing the majority of meal preparation assisted by PAC and community members.
Stephanie said Marion High students and possibly middle school students would provide with table service.
Though the acts have yet to be finalized, Nick Kraus said, MHS students also will provide about 30 to 45 minutes of entertainment. Items for a raffle are being gathered, too.
A “dessert dash” has potential to entertain and satisfy anyone with a sweet tooth.
“It is just a fun way of picking your dessert,” Stephanie Kraus said. “Tables work together to decide what dessert they want, then make a ‘realistic bid’ on that dessert. The table with the highest bid goes first and continues down to the lowest. The tables dash for their favorite dessert in hopes of getting what they want.”
Tickets must be purchased by Jan. 25, and can be picked up at USD 408 district office.
More information is available with Kraus at (620) 382-8991 or Taylor at (620) 382-8812.