By PAT PRATT
SEMO News Service
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff has never "balked" at bringing awesome guest speakers to its annual Steak and Burger event. This year promises yet another ace appearance.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael Wacha will highlight this year's event, which begins 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Black River Coliseum. The annual Steak and Burger event features dinner, auctions and guest speakers and is the club's biggest fundraiser of the year.
Event committee chair Kelly Spradling says while 'it's hard to go wrong with the St. Louis Cardinals," organizers also wanted a speaker who was supportive of young people and the mission of Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
"We look for somebody who is going to be an attractive speaker - people will want to come and hear and attend the event - but, we also want someone who has heart," Spradling said. "And a heart for kids, because that is the focus of our event. We feel we found that in Michael Wacha."
Wacha became a familiar face when he was named MVP of the 2013 NLCS. That year his last name also earned him the now familiar "Wacha, Wacha" chant, a play on Muppet Fonzie the Bear's famous tagline.
Wacha also was named an All-Star this season and at this writing leads the Cardinals with a 17-6 record and has a 3.15 ERA.
"Our kids in the community really gravitate toward those kinds of guys, because Michael Wacha is the kind of guy that people want to try and be like," said Boys and Girls Club executive director Chris Rushin. "He has a big heart and believes in the mission of the Boys and Girls clubs."
As the name implies, at the event patrons try to outbid other nearby guests for the one steak per table. The losers have to dine on burgers, albeit gourmet burgers. Club members serve the dinner and win or lose, everyone leaves knowing they helped one of the area's most impactful youth organizations.
A silent auction featuring Cardinals memorabilia and other items also will take place throughout the evening.
Funds raised from tickets and the auctions supplement club programs so that anyone in the community can participate regardless of income, one of the principal missions of Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff.
"Our focus with this event is to raise funds to offset the costs of what we actually charge each year - a maximum of $40 - to what it actually costs to attend the club, which is right about $960. We try to fill that gap - a very large one considering we have 400-plus members," Spradling said.
For those local members, the club is often a second home. There, they receive meals, support, academic assistance, activities and much more, but most importantly, access to a place where they and their parents know they are safe.
"Those parents know their kids are going to have their homework done, they are going to be taught important lessons, they are going to get a nutritious meal at the end of the day. When the public comes out to support events like this, it is going to make their community better in the long run," Rushin said.
The club raised more than $76,000 following an appearance by St. Cardinal Jim Edmonds at the 2014 Steak and Burger event. The goal this year is to break $100,000. To do that, the club is offering a variety of packages to the event.
Major sponsorships include a number of tickets and other perks and range in price, but individual tickets are also available for $75. The individual ticket includes dinner and the evening program highlighted by Wacha's talk.
Tickets are currently on sale at Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff Hentz Center and at Kelly Spradling Farmers Insurance. Tickets will be available at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce and at the coliseum beginning Oct. 5.
A limited number of VIP passes are available, contact the club at 776-1690.
According to the club, the event would not be possible without the contributions of title sponsor U.S. Bank, VIP pre-party sponsor Southeast Health, banquet sponsor The Dermatology Office; and auction sponsors, Budweiser, Poplar Bluff Realty and Dr. John N. Fox and staff of Center for Advanced Orthodontics.