Cookie Table & Cocktails will return to history center

Photo

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR — Staff of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society and members of the Young Leaders Advisory Board make plans for the third annual Cookie Table and Cocktails fundraiser. From left to right are Frank Rulli, event chairman; Erica Shonn; Scott Zoldan, MVHS board member and first vice president of The Waypoint Group title sponsor; Leslie Limbian; Cheryl Lewis, campaign director, Bill Lawson, executive director; and Leann Rich, manager of education and external relations.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Members of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, hoping to top last year’s 7,000 sweet treats, are gearing up for the third annual Cookie Table and Cocktails fundraiser.

The gala is slated for 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Tyler History Center, 325 W. Federal St.

The Young Leaders Advisory Board, a MVHS group of members ages 21 to 50, is organizing the event to raise funds for new exhibits at the history center.

A repeat title sponsor is The Waypoint Group of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Canfield. Other sponsors are Rulli Bros., WKBN and Covelli Enterprises.

The event is billed as having a fun and frivolous wedding reception atmosphere with music, appetizers, beverages and extraordinary cookie tables. Organizers are looking to recruit more sponsors, silent auction donations and cookie bakers.

Sponsorship levels, which offer varying degrees of publicity and complimentary tickets, are Wedding Reception Sponsor, $1,000; Wedding Dance Sponsor, $500; Bouquet Sponsor, $250; Honeymoon Sponsor, $100; and Guest Book Sponsor, $25 to $75.

The deadline for sponsorship is Jan. 23. Contact MVHS Campaign Director Cheryl Staib Lewis at clewis@mahininghistoryorg or Frank Rulli at frankrulli@faniroarchitects.com or 330-747-2800.

Items are needed for the silent auction. Donations to date include framed photos of historic places in the Valley; wine baskets; and a behind the scenes tour of the MVHS archives and Arms Family Museum.

Amateur and professional cookie bakers must submit applications for the 60 baking positions available.

Since 1975 the MVHS has collected, preserved and shared the stories of the diverse population of the Valley. Because of a lack of space at the Arms Family Museum, on Wick Avenue, the MVHS began a $6 million campaign in 2008 to create the Tyler History Center. So far, $4.96 million has been raised and renovations complete, but $1 million is needed to construct and install state-of-the-art exhibits and develop a wide range of educational programs that will inform more than 25,000 visitors a year.