Ark Valley News - Cheery pies

Caleb Smith (held by Ben Anderson) and Greg Lehr (held by Spike Anderson) rally the crowd during the Valley Center Community Foundation pie auction Nov. 26. The event raised $21,700.

Cheery pies
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: December 12, 2019

Charity sets record with fundraising effort

The Valley Center Community Foundation's annual pie auction gave Greg Lehr and Caleb Smith a lot to cheer about.

Dressed in cheerleading uniforms, the Valley Center school administrators and foundation supporters helped the local charity raise $21,700 Nov. 26, the most in its three years.

"I know I can share on behalf of everyone on the board how grateful we are to all of our bakers and the donors," said Jerry Hawkins, president of the community foundation.

Twenty pies were auctioned, raising $18,850. After the auction, cash-and-carry pies were available at a suggested donation of $50. Since many people donated more than the suggested price, the foundation raised another $1,500. In addition, funds were raised from games before the auction started.

McCurdy Auction provided the auctioneers. Valley Center High School broadcast the auction live on social media.

"When you see the bidding go up on one of these pies, it is really amazing," Hawkins said. "It tells me that there are many people out there who are just as excited about the foundation as we are. … Or it might have something to do with the fact that their granddaughter was the one who baked the pie."

Pie bakers included Rachael McGettigan (Avery Automotive), Paul Davis (Lions Club), Greg Lehr (VC Intermediate School), Luis Alicia (Riverlawn Christian Church), Joy Thompson (Keller Williams), Casey Carlson (Halstead Bank), Brent Clark and Frank Miller (City of Valley Center); Eric Scriven (Breezy's Snow Shack), Jean Balthazor (LifePoint Church), Kevin Johnson (Emprise Bank), Amber and Herb Callender (Valley Liquor), Danielle Robertson (Robertson Chiropractic), Pam Porter (Chamber of Commerce), Amanda Maness (Cottage Market), Jamie Lewis (VC High School), and Amy Stamm (First United Methodist Church). In addition, there were several young bakers, including Henry Stong, Tara and Leah Newfer, Samantha Anderson and Elly Westmoreland.

At the auction, Hawkins introduced Trisha Schmidt as the incoming president of the foundation.

Before the auction began, Hawkins presented a check for $1,400 to the Valley Center Band-Aide to sponsor a student traveling next year to the Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C.

Hawkins said the community foundation provides grants to a variety of local organizations and efforts.

Hawkins said that growing up in Texas, his father planted fruit trees. Once a year, Hawkins and his brothers would go outside and as a family we would pick what they could.

"As the trees grew larger, so did we," he said. "And to commemorate it, my father would snap a picture each year. The vision I have for the Valley Center Community Foundation is just like one of those trees. The funds we raise be used can be used to support endowed funds that grow over time, yet give right back to Valley Center through grants, scholarships and other support for things which are important to Valley Center."