SRU hosting fundraising dinner for the Macoskey Center, Sept. 21

Sept. 12, 2024

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's Macoskey Center for Sustainability Education and Research is hosting its first annual Harmony Harvest Fundraising Dinner, 6-9 p.m., Sept. 21, at the Macoskey Center, located at 247 Harmony Road in Slippery Rock.

Members of the community are invited to purchase tickets and enjoy farm-to-fork culinary stations, featuring ingredients harvested from the Macoskey Center, as well as from local and regional farms. The event will also feature live music and a silent auction. Proceeds will support the Macoskey Center. Tickets are $50 per person and they can be purchased by registering online.

"This a great event to showcase farm-to-fork foods, celebrate what we've accomplished in the past year and generate additional financial support for the Macoskey Center," said Sami Bortz, manager of the Macoskey Center. "Our goal is to build our capacity so that we can reach more people in the community with our programming that includes environmental education, demonstrations and research. There's demand and interest for what we offer at the center and financial support that we gain from an event like this will help ensure that we are able to meet the demands."

The Macoskey Center offers a variety of programming on its 70-acre grounds that range from support for student projects at SRU to partnerships with community organizations, businesses and conservation groups. Examples of direct educational programming for the community include field trips for local schools, summer camps for children and the center's popular EarthFest event every April.

The Harmony Harvest Fundraising Dinner will include a performance by Lori & Tom, a local musical act comprised of Lori Udy and Tom Zenobi, as well as a silent auction with the chance to win prizes that include handmade furniture, gift cards to local businesses and private tour passes to the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh. Culinary stations will include fruits and vegetables grown at the Macoskey Center and local farms, as well pork from a nearby hog farm, Fallen Aspen Farm, whose owner Jake Kristophel will attend to discuss sustainable practices and ethically raising meats.

"The fundraising dinner is going to be a very positive, uplifting and inspiring event," Bortz said. "Anytime I've been able to get people out to the center, they walk away wanting to take action because they see all this potential and excitement around sustainability, education, demonstration and research. They see what that can look like in higher education and as a bridge builder with the larger community. That's what our mission is and it's great to be able to showcase that."

More information about the Macoskey Center is available on the SRU website. To donate to the Macoskey Center, visit the link on the SRU Foundation, Inc., website. For more information about the Harmony Harvest Fundraising Dinner, visit the event webpage or contact the Macoskey Center at 724.738.4050 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 |  [email protected]