By Chip Chandler — Producer
Artistic and thrilling opportunities await those seeking to give back in August. Mark your calendars now for these upcoming fundraisers.
Women of Distinction
Four prominent region women will be honored by Girl Scouts of Texas-Oklahoma Plains on Aug. 2.
The Women of Distinction luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at Polk Street United Methodist Church, 1401 S. Polk St. Tickets are $35; sponsorships are available.
Women leaders in business, government and philanthropy will be recognized: Dr. Joanna Wilson, a women's health medical doctor, with the Discover Award; Sally Hawkins, CEO of the Bank of the Panhandle in Guymon, Okla., with the Connect Award; Brandy Sanchez, general manager of KAMR Local 4 and FOX 14, with the Take Action Award; and Natalie Stephenson, outdoor education manager for Girl Scouts, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Call 806-553-3176.
Koben Puckett Invitational
Top cowboys will go bulls to the wall at this Professional Bull Riders-sanctioned competition on Aug. 4.
The Koben Puckett Invitational will take place at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Will Rogers Range Riders Arena, 313 Texas Loop 335. Gates open at 6 p.m., and tickets are $20 at the event or $17.50 in advance.
Puckett was paralyzed from the neck down in a 2008 bull-riding accident, as he told me in an interview. He founded the Koben Puckett Invitational, a bull- and ranch bronc-riding event.
Funds raised help support the Press On Foundation, which has helped Puckett and those like him afford rehab and therapy to help them recover from severe spinal cord injuries.
Samplin' Under the Stars
Get samples of several different libations at an event for Amarillo Botanical Gardens.
Samplin' Under the Stars will begin at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the gardens, 1400 Streit Drive.
Guests can enjoy tastes of beer, wine, spirits and cigars, plus light food from Joe Taco.
Tickets are $25 by phone in advance and $30 at the door.
Call 806-352-6513.
Savor the Goods
Panhandle PBS' next Savor the Goods: A Farm-to-Table Evening will feature Chef Rocky Dunnam of Nineteen49 Catering.
The dinner party will run 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Reed Beverage, 3701 S.E. 25th Ave.
Dunnam has created a special menu showcasing fresh meats, vegetables and dairy ingredients from ranchers and farmers in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains.
Following a happy hour, the chef will demonstrate a recipe from that evening's meal.
Tickets are $75, including dinner and drinks.
The dinners began with Chefs Rhonda Obenhaus and Laura Yarber in June and Chef Jessica Higgins in July. Footage from all of the planned dinners, which run monthly through November, will be featured in online and on-air segments of “The Goods” in the fall.
Call 806-371-5477.
35th Birthday Bash
Help celebrate the area-wide work done by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Amarillo at a Dumas festival.
The 35th Birthday Bash will begin with a family fun walk/run at 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at McDade Park, 16th Street and Maddox Avenue in Dumas.
The festival also will feature games, food and fire trucks.
Entry fee for the run/walk is $25.
Call 806-358-8177.
Over the Edge
Rappel down one of downtown Amarillo's most prominent buildings in a new fundraiser for Family Support Services.
Over the Edge offers those who raise or pay at least $1,000 to rappel down from above the 12th floor of the historic Santa Fe Building at Ninth Avenue and Polk Street between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 16.
Fundraising pages can be set up here.
Food trucks and vendors will be set up along Polk Street for onlookers to watch the rappeling.
The same company previously worked with Coffee Memorial Blood Center for several years.
Call 806-342-2503.
Create! 2018
A celebration of arts and downtown Amarillo will return as a one-day party on Aug. 17.
Center City of Amarillo's Create! 2018 will run from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at Embassy Suites Amarillo, 550 S. Buchanan St. A VIP party will run from 6 to 7 p.m.
The party will feature music by James Owens, karaoke with Katie Eddins, Burn Studio painting activities, caricatures by Kyle Singleton, an art show and sale, and silent auction and raffle.
Create! replaced the Center City Block Party in 2016 and has previously included a day-long outdoor art festival on the day following the party.
"We are still hopeful to do the festival, but this year we don't have a definite date," said Beth Duke, Center City executive director. "But it will likely be in conjunction with (Amarillo) Community Market (in the fall)."
Tickets are $50 or $2,500 for reserved tables at the VIP Preview Party.
Call 806-372-6744.
Shiraz for a Cause
A wine dinner will help raise funds for the Bishop DeFalco Retreat & Conference Center.
Shiraz for a Cause will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at the center, 2100 N. Spring St.
It will include heavy hors d'oeuvres from Chef Jason Haschk, live music from Patrick Swindell and Esquire Jazz, casino games, and live and silent auctions.
Tickets are $50. Raffle tickets are $10 to win a $1,000 case of wine.
Call 806-383-1811.
Dodge for a Cause
Get ready to duck: The second Dodge for a Cause dodgeball tournament is set for Aug. 18.
The tourney, organized by Amarillo Police Department's Neighborhood Police Officers Unit, will benefit the Northside Toy Drive.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 18, with the tournament kicking off at 10 a.m. at the Bus & Freda Dugger Sportsplex, 2209 S.E. 33rd Ave.
Entry fee is $25 per player for a team of six to eight players.
For information, email info@doubleumarketing.com.
America's Horse in Art
The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum will celebrate its 11th America's Horse in Art show and sale Aug. 18.
The free opening reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at the museum, 2601 E. Interstate 40.
Featured artist Don Weller, whose work has appeared on covers of Time, Sports Illustrated and Readers Digest, as well as stamps for the United States Postal Service and posters for the Rose Bowl, National Football League and the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Weller and other artists chosen for the show will attend the reception. Works — which can be seen online beginning Aug. 2 — will be auctioned off at the show and online, with proceeds benefiting the museum, a program of the American Quarter Horse Foundation.
The show, which will feature works ranging from pencil drawings to oils on canvas, will hang through Oct. 13.
Call 806-376-5181.
Santa in the Summer
A Cajun Christmas is in the works for an annual August fundraiser.
Jazzin' Up Santa in the Summer, New Orleans Style is set for 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Eveline Rivers Christmas Project, 314 S. Jefferson St.
The annual fundraiser for the nonprofit organization will feature Las Vegas-based country singer Scotty Alexander and Esquire Jazz, silent and live auctions and a meal provided by Chef Tim Youngblood.
Tickets are $65 for singles and $120 for couples.
Call 806-372-3985.
Panhandle PBS Cuts Footloose
Panhandle PBS supporters are invited to an '80s-themed 30th anniversary party on Aug. 30.
The Panhandle PBS Cuts Footloose summer garden party will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Reed Beverage, 3701 S.E. 25th Ave.
The party will feature drinks and small plates from Chef Rocky Dunnam. Popular Amarillo party band Noah Jenda will perform, and Purple Flamingo Popsicles will have cool refreshments.
The event celebrates Panhandle PBS's launch as KACV-TV on Aug. 29, 1988.
Call 806-371-5477.
Chip Chandler is a producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and on Facebook.
