Jazz it up!
Chicken & All That Jazz fundraiser supports local scholarships

 

 

What is better than a warm summer evening spent outdoors eating a hearty grilled chicken dinner complete with fresh roasted sweet corn and live upbeat music? Nothing, except doing it for a good cause such as higher education!

Area residents will have an opportunity to enjoy a popular outdoor community picnic and support scholarships for area students at UW-Sheboygan by simply attending this year’s Chicken & All That Jazz fundraising picnic, sponsored by the UW-Sheboygan Foundation.

Set for Wednesday, August 8 on the scenic 70-acre UW-Sheboygan campus, Chicken & All That Jazz 2012 will feature live Dixieland jazz music throughout the evening courtesy of the popular Rhythm Aces and a hearty grilled chicken dinner, complete with a half chicken, fresh roasted corn and all the extras.

 

Beer and soda will be sold separately but available all evening. Dinner will be served from 4:30 to 8 p.m., with musical entertainment provided until 8:30 p.m. A special Ice Cream Sundae and Bake Sale tent also will be tempt guests with home-baked goodies and brownie sundaes throughout the evening.

Attracting a record-breaking nearly 1,500 patrons every year, Chicken & All That Jazz continues to grow in scope and popularity. Besides offering area residents a great excuse to indulge in a tasty picnic dinner with family and friends, the fundraiser provides the opportunity for all to support higher education in the community.

 

Since 1986, Chicken & All That Jazz has been a Sheboygan summer event with a special place on many local residents’ calendars.

 

Each year, all the funds raised from Chicken & All That Jazz are returned to area residents in the form of UW-S Foundation New Student and Continuing Student Education Grants and other awards to assist them in achieving their college and education goals.

 

“The UW-Sheboygan Foundation started this event more than 25 years ago to raise funds to help our local residents attend college without the concern for tuition expenses and to reduce student debt, and that hasn’t changed,” said Carrie Hoppe, UW-Sheboygan Foundation executive director.

 

What has changed over the past two decades is the demand for local financial assistance for students attending college. The UW-Sheboygan Foundation has responded by growing its annual scholarship budget to more than $100,000 – all of which goes to local students who are starting their college educations in Sheboygan County.

 

Most recently, the UW-S Foundation has expanded its scholarships to include Transfer Awards, which aim to assist our graduates as they transfer on to four-year universities to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Many of these students are still in need of financial assistance even as they move on to four-year universities, Hoppe said.

 

“These scholarships, which are made possible by Chicken & All That Jazz can make a student’s dream come true – from being able to still feed their families while attending classes or simply avoiding any debt while completing their first two years of college.”

 

Since UW-Sheboygan is one of the 13 UW Colleges campuses across the state, it offers students the lowest tuition rate in the UW System, along with foundation classes in more than 200 majors.

 

“All Chicken & All That Jazz guests should know that their contribution will make a difference in a student’s life,” Hoppe added.

 

UW-Sheboygan sophomore Grace Toth, who has received multiple Foundation scholarships, said the UW-Sheboygan Foundation’s efforts to support area students are much appreciated.

 

“These scholarships have given me the opportunity to excel in my studies without having to worry about the financial burden that college places on young adults and their families,” said Toth who graduated from Sheboygan North High School and is majoring in Business. “They also encourage me to always do my best and strive for success, which is my way of saying thank you for these generous scholarships.”

 

Many area businesses and groups faithfully attend Chicken & All That Jazz each summer as Corporate and Reserved Table sponsors. Reserved tables are available at an additional charge for groups in a special area, putting them in a prime location right near the band and food tents. Pre-purchased soda and drink tickets are also available for groups.

 

“The UW-Sheboygan Foundation invites area businesses and groups to hold their company picnics or parties at Chicken & All That Jazz. Anyone can reserve a table – from a birthday party to a local non-profit board,” Hoppe added. “This way, you and your guests or colleagues enjoy a group gathering without the setup or cleanup work – and at a truly affordable cost.”

 

Tickets for the event are $15 each in advance or $17 at the door. Advance ticket purchases are encouraged.

 

Tickets are available at all area Piggly Wiggly stores including Sheboygan (north side location only), Howards Grove, Cedar Grove, Plymouth, Oostburg and Sheboygan Falls, as well as Woodlake Market in Kohler and Festival Foods in Sheboygan. Tickets also can be purchased at the UW-Sheboygan Business Services Office, from any UW-Sheboygan Foundation member, at Van De Kreeke & Associates in Sheboygan or by contacting Hoppe at (920) 459-6612 or carrie.hoppe@uwc.edu.

 

UW-Sheboygan is located off Taylor Drive on University Drive. Parking for the event is available in both the east and west parking lots, but tables and the serving tent for the picnic will be located on the East lawn next to the Gym and between the Fine Arts Building and the Gymnasium. The event is held rain or shine.

 

For more information on tickets, reserved tables or the UW-Sheboygan Foundation, contact Hoppe at (920) 459-6612, e-mail carrie.hoppe@uwc.edu, or visit www.sheboygan.uwc.edu.