‘Exceeded our wildest expectations’: Rappahannock Benevolent Fund dinner raises money for residents in need

The Rappahannock Benevolent Fund hosted its annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner on Saturday, raising money to support community members in need. 

Guests filled The Washington School dressed as characters from iconic television shows from the 1950s-90s, and perused silent auction items like framed photographs, gift cards and locally-raised meat. 

The dinner has been an annual tradition since 2009, according to Berni Olson, executive director of the Benevolent Fund.

Local “celebrities” from other community organizations and Benevolent Fund partners waited on tables of guests, serving a three-course family style meal catered by New Iberia before a live auction. Auction cards flew up and down as guests bid on donated items from a stay in an Italian villa, which went for $12,500, to a jar of homemade ginger snaps, which was auctioned  for $3,000. Attendees also pledged lump sum donations to help fund a family in Rappahannock. 

The amount raised will be released in the coming weeks as totals are still being tallied, but Olson said the organization was happy with how this year’s event turned out.  

“It exceeded our wildest expectations,” said Olson.

This year’s silent auction is being held online for the first time, and can be accessed through the Benevolent Fund website rappbenfund.org. The auction will close on March 15.