Pat and Patty Richardson, Rich and Karla McClain and Diane Stell enjoy a pre-dinner conversation.

LEESBURG — A sail used as a canopy over the lobby, a display of sail boats and boat greeted visitors to “A Nautical Night Under the Lights,” for the annual Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County Dinner/Dance/Auction. Guests came prepared to “set sail for a night of giving.” The evening was held at Tippecanoe Country Club Saturday, Aug. 27.

Giving is what the approximately 154 guests joined together to do.

An estimated $30,000 was raised through the purchase of live and silent auction items, the auction of seven sail boat centerpieces, seven lantern centerpieces and six gold vase centerpieces. An additional estimated $11,050 was raised to go toward gas cards, a month payment for utilities, car payment and gas card and a month’s rent or mortgage payment for patients.

Dave Stell tells what the evening is all about.

Dave Stell, committee member, briefly spoke to the group prior to dinner, informing everyone they were there that evening to raise funds for those less fortunate than they are. He stated the financial contributions by those participating in the evening’s events “will go a long way in assisting those who are not sure what to do next. We can help alleviate some of these financial strains with our donations.”

Guests enjoyed a meal of field greens with dried cranberries, gold raisins, pecans, filet mignon, Bourbon glazed salmon, twice baked potato, squash medley vegetables and a variety of sweet desserts.

Throughout the evening guests placed their silent bids on 34 different items ranging from a ULA signed basketball, to a small Yeti cooler, a medium sheet cake, John Deere toy assortment, cooking classes, wine gift basket, baby Keepsake box with a collection of baby items for a boy or girl, massage, 5 pound box of chocolates, a rocker, cut glass, king size down comforter and pillow set and more.

Brian Wuthrich with Hahn Auction Service was the evening auctioneer, auctioning off a dinner and wine pairing for four, Indianapolis Colts suite tickets, a trip to Gatlinburg, Tenn., jewelry and sunglasses, a getaway choice of a cruise, Las Vegas escape or all-inclusive Cancun getaway, Marco Island package, cruise in Sarasota and condo stay at Holmes Beach.