“Horsing Around” to Benefit the Olean City School District
“Horsing Around” to Benefit the Olean City School District
“A Night at the Races” Fundraising Event Sponsored by the Olean City School District Foundation at Woodside Tavern on the Range, May 5th
Photo courtesy of the Olean City School District Foundation
Want a fun way to spend a Friday night? “Night at the Races” is a fundraising event sponsored by the Olean Schools Foundation and hosted by the Woodside Tavern on the Range. Set for Friday, May 5 (doors open at 6:15pm), it is an event filled with great revelry and event coordinator John Irving was excited to talk with ellicottvilleNOW about what guests can expect.
First, let’s get a quick overview of its history. “This is actually the 5th annual event,” explained Irving. “One of our board members, Barb Lias, had previously attended a “Night at the Races” elsewhere and thought it would be a fun event for the Olean City School District Foundation to hold as a fundraiser. The event, which started in 2017, is held every year on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby.”
They’ve got a few new things for 2023. As Irving indulges, "Back in 2019, we added the Trifecta 50/50 raffle and the High Roller betting table. Last year we moved to a larger venue, went to two screens and two wager tables. This year we will be adding a DJ to entertain between races and smaller 50/50s throughout the night. As always, if you have a non-winning bet ticket you can use it to enter into the drawing for one of the many door prizes.”
Irving said the event consists of 10 video horse races with an 11th auction race at the end. As part of the fundraiser, people will donate $10 to name one of the 100 horses in the races. If their horse wins, they will receive a gift certificate to a local restaurant. They also have a derby hat contest in two categories: traditional hat and most unique hat. This year there will be a piñata which participants can purchase tickets for a chance to take a swing at it. Door prizes will be drawn after the 11th race.
Along with a great entertainment lineup, you can also expect a great spread of food! Since this year’s event falls on Cinco de Mayo, the menu will have a Mexican theme. Start out with apps before the first race - cheese, veggies and crackers. Followed by tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, rice, chips and salsa, guacamole, and pizza. This year’s signature drink: margaritas, of course.
What’s in the months following? The Olean City School District Foundation is planning their annual golf tournament to be held in June. In November they participate in Cattaraugus Gives Day. “We need to thank all our sponsors and donors for all the success these events bring,” said Irving. In June the Foundation hosts the Wall of Honor. John advised this award recognizes the accomplishments of past students and faculty. Since 2020, the OCSD Foundation has fulfilled over $150,000 in grant requests.
The Olean Schools Foundation, established in 2002, was created to provide additional funds to support special academic programs and curriculum enrichment in all Olean City Schools. Creative opportunities that support the education of Olean students immensely influence their growth and cultural awareness. New experiences, projects, and programs expand their minds and broaden their horizons. For more information, please visit oleanschools.org/foundation.
