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Racing Toward Opportunity: A Look Back at Our 2025 Kentucky Derby FUNdraiser

This year’s Spring 2025 Kentucky Derby FUNdraiser on Saturday, May 3rd at the Riverbend Club was a huge success!

We had an unforgettable evening featuring a bourbon tasting, live viewing of the 151st Kentucky Derby, online and live auctions, thrilling casino games, two raffle ticket games, fabulous prizes, delicious Derby-inspired cuisine and drinks, hand-rolled cigars, and more. It was a fantastic gathering of community members, new friends, and long-time supporters—all coming together to raise crucial scholarship funds for local students.We are excited to announce we raised over $90,000 to put towards scholarships this fall!


WATCH PARTY AND BOURBON TASTING

We started the evening off right with our exciting Kentucky Derby Watch Party and Bourbon Tasting. Attendees who came to view the Kentucky Derby were able to watch the race on big-screen TVs located throughout the event space, participate in our bourbon tasting, sip our two fabulous signature cocktails—the Oak Lily and Mint Julep—and nibble on delicious Derby-themed hors d'oeuvres.

To add to the fun, almost everyone played our Winner’s Circle 50/50 raffle game, where they bought tickets and placed them in the jar(s) of their favorite horse(s). They watched the race and cheered on their pick to win in hopes of winning big themselves. Our winner, Dawn Wierzbicki, was so generous—instead of splitting her winnings 50/50, she donated it all to the Scholarship Fund! We could not thank her enough for her kindness in supporting our mission. The Winner’s Circle 50/50 game was so much fun and so well received, we hope to offer it again next year!


Our bourbon tasting for the watch party was held in the Radius Room. Our tasting host, Suzanne Charleston, also Vice President of the Scholarship Fund Board, did an amazing job selecting five excellent bourbons:

  • Uncle Nearest Single Barrel

  • Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight

  • Bowman Brothers Pioneer Spirit Small Batch

  • Penelope Rosé Cask Finish

  • Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 151


Guests could choose to taste one or all five bourbons and enjoy sipping on their selections during the Derby race. Everyone had their favorite, but I heard the Bowman Brothers Pioneer Spirit from Virginia was so smooth it got special props!


MAIN EVENT

After the race, our guests started to arrive and were greeted with a glass of bubbly from our champagne wall. Of course, our fabulous signature cocktails continued to be available at our bars located in the Potomac Room and the South Terrace for all to enjoy throughout the evening. Guests were free to mingle, buy raffle tickets for our gorgeous Van Cleef necklace, view our online auction items, play blackjack and roulette with funny money, take pictures at our photo booth, and enjoy hand-rolled cigars.


WELCOME

Once everyone settled in, Lindsay Harper, the Scholarship Fund President, welcomed everyone and announced the winner of the Winner’s Circle 50/50 Drawing. Then Jackie Harding, Director of Fundraising, gave a warm and gracious thank you to all our sponsors.


After the announcements, our dinner buffet and dessert stations were opened for guests to dine at their leisure throughout the event space.


ONLINE AUCTION

Our guests had the opportunity to see some of our online auction items displayed on the South Terrace. The auction consisted of a wide range of incredible items, services, and experiences. Whether you were looking for a weekend getaway, spa package, golf outing, or gift certificates to top restaurants—we had something for everyone!


Even if you couldn't attend the event, you could shop our online auction from anywhere. We even had one outstanding bidder placing bids while vacationing in Europe!


Our online auction remained open until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, the day after the Derby event.


RAFFLE ITEM

Throughout the evening, our guests were able to view and purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a gorgeous new Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra Necklace. Our winner was Sasha Malik. Thank you, Sasha, for participating in our raffle—and congratulations! You’re going to look stunning wearing this timeless piece.


PRIZES

We love a theme party! Prizes were given for best hat, best dressed, and best coordinating couple. Our judges—Sumaira Malik, Scholarship Fund Events Director; Toria Scotto, Treasurer; and Kaha Haski, Women’s Club Member—moved throughout the crowd incognito during the first half of the evening, keeping an eye out for the most spectacular attire.


Their favorites were rewarded for their efforts in playing along with our theme. Our fabulous winners were:

  • Best Hat: PeggySue McNulty

  • Best Dressed: Ashley Summers

  • Best Coordinating Couple: Mariana Reyes & Daniel Shea


LIVE AUCTION AND SPIN TO WIN

Our fabulous auctioneer, Rick Bernstein – The Voice of DC, started our live auction with an exciting icebreaker: Spin to Win! In this game, guests bid for a chance to spin the wheel, which was filled with fun prizes. The highest bidder got to spin, and the process was repeated four times. Our lucky spinners won incredible prizes, including a Chesapeake Bay chartered fishing trip.


We had five outstanding live auction items:

  • Ultimate Golf Package to the Players Championship in Ponte Vedra, Florida

  • Lilly Valley Inn & Culinary Experience in Virginia’s breathtaking New River Basin

  • Sojourn Travel Advisors & Celebrity Cruises Caribbean Package

  • Ultimate All-Inclusive Luxury Escape at a 5-star resort of choice

  • Private Wine Dinner & Cellar Tour of over $7,000 in bottles


Rick presented each item masterfully—his cattle rattle was mesmerizing! The crowd was buzzing with excitement, bid cards were flying, and guests rallied to win their dream packages.


Once the live auction wrapped, Rick opened the floor for an Open Paddle Raise, beginning at $2,500 (the amount of one general scholarship). Paddles went up, and Rick continued to lower the contribution level so everyone could take part—ending at $100. Our guests were beyond generous. We can’t thank them enough.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DANCING

At the end of the live auction, Rick announced the raffle winner and the attire contest winners. Then he let everyone know our Mystery Wine Pull had begun in the hallway.


To keep the party going, Rick opened the dance floor in the Radius Room. Our amazing DJ played the perfect beats while guests mingled, danced with friends, and enjoyed late-night snacks.


MYSTERY WINE PULL

Our Mystery Wine Pull table was located in the hallway as guests exited the main event space. The game was open from 10–11 p.m. As people wrapped up their evening, they had the chance to win an awesome bottle of wine—just $50 per entry.


We curated a mix of red, white, and sparkling wines, with some bottles valued as high as $200. Guests selected a number and walked away with a surprise bottle. All 35 bottles sold out!


LAST CALL

As the evening wound down, Suzanne Charleston called Last Call at 10:30 p.m., and our Blackjack & Roulette tables were closed. She declared Matt Matay as the casino prize winner and gave a final reminder to play the Mystery Wine Pull.


She also reminded everyone that the online auction was still open until 5:00 p.m. the next day—there was still time to bid high and bid often!


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our unforgettable Derby night! From fabulous hats to heartfelt moments, it was a night full of fun, laughter, and community—all for a great cause.


We’re so grateful for your support in making this year’s event one to remember. We appreciate your giving spirit and your never-ending support of the Scholarship Fund!


With gracious hearts,

The Scholarship Fund Board of Directors and Event Committee


🎥 Take a look inside our FUNdraiser – view our event video


OUR VENDORS

They helped make our fundraiser an evening to remember:




Derby Fundraiser Event Collage

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