Saturday, April 25, 2009
STAFF REPORT
BROOKFIELD — The 20th Annual Strimbu Bar-B-Que, a scholarship fund-raising event for the Strimbu Memorial Fund, will be May 6 at the Yankee Lake Ballroom.
The fund has provided millions of dollars in donations and college scholarships and supports local economic development and many charitable organizations.
The fund was created to perpetuate the work of the late Nick Strimbu Jr., who had a passion for leading individuals and economic development agencies to attract, assist and retain the industrial base of the Valley, said Ed Wilson, event chairman
The Strimbu Memorial Fund is part of the Community Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio.
The fund awards leadership scholarships of $1,000 each to qualified local high school seniors in 10 local school districts, with an additional $10,000 awarded to the overall leader. Six students will also be selected to receive $500 scholarships through the Angelo and Jenny Mastrian Charitable Trust. The fund also contributes to economic development agencies and projects and selected humanitarian projects and programs.
The Bar-B-Que draws a sellout crowd of 1,600 each year and raised nearly $140,000 last year.
It’s a country-western theme, and doors open at 5 p.m.
There will be both silent and live auctions, with many unique items such as signed Kelly Pavlik boxing gloves, loge seats for a Kenny Chesney concert, airline tickets, a Black Angus steer, Steelers tickets and a signed Sidney Crosby jersey. Live country-western music will be provided by the Tombstones.
Tickets are $85 and are available from any board member or the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call Connie at (724) 981-3123 or visit www.strimbumemorialfund.org.