P.E.O.'s Burgers, Bands & Brews Supports Higher Education

WAITSBURG – Where can you get a hamburger meal, dine to live music, and follow it up with a night of dancing for only $10-$15? It’s sounds unlikely, but that’s exactly the deal the Waitsburg Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.) provides to the community during Waitsburg Celebration Days.

Local Philanthropy Chair Wendy Davis has organized the event for the last several years and says, even though it is the group’s main fundraiser, keeping costs down so that families can attend is a top priority.

“We often get suggestions to raise the price but we would rather have people there having a good time enjoying the community. We view it not only as a fundraiser but as an event offered for the community to come together and celebrate,” Davis said. “With Celebration Days just two weeks after the rib feed, we didn’t want people to have to pick and choose. We want everyone to be able to attend and bring their kids,” she added.

For many years the Waitsburg P.E.O. provided a $600 Citizenship Award which was funded by the group’s main fundraiser of packaging and selling nuts. Davis said that, over time, that endeavor became less and less profitable and $600 didn’t go as far to help with college.

Davis said she and her husband Brian (drummer for The FrogHollow Band) had often thought it would be fun to have a band at the Lions rib and salmon feeds. When a local committee formed to create Celebration Days, and save the Days of Real Sport weekend after the races ended, Davis attended a meeting and realized this was an opportunity for P.E.O. to try something new.

She approached the group about offering some kind of dinner with live music, followed by a dance with a live band. PEO members were enthusiastic, and after batting around the idea of a spaghetti or chili dinner, they settled on a hamburger feed.

Minors are encouraged to attend the dinner with their families, and for only seven dollars can enjoy live music by local musicians from 5-8 p.m. At nine the festivities move to the Don Thomas building where the 18-and-over crowd can enjoy a night of live music and dancing. Adult early-bird tickets were $10, but they raised to $15 after May 16.

This year, the local Bluegrass band, Switchgrass will perform during dinner from 5-8 p.m. Music duo Riley & Dylan will kick things off in the Don Thomas building, followed by a night of dancing with The FrogHollow Band.

Davis said P.E.O.’s goal is to offer two $1,000 scholarships each year. Three years ago they were able to do that, but last year they were only able to offer two $800 scholarships. Davis says the organization must match whatever funds they donate locally to the national/international organization.

The group prints 700 tickets and is hopeful the sales volume will offset the low price. Tickets may be purchased at Waitsburg Grocery, the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Cartridge World on Main Street in Walla Walla, online at EventBrite.com or from any local PEO member.