Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Tickets still are available for the annual Stars at Night fundraiser.

The event won’t feature a fashion show like last year’s inaugural event, but the Steamboat Classy theme will be similar.

Past, present and future Olympians will join the celebration for a night of entertainment, drinks, dinner, dancing and a live auction.

“Going into our 100th year celebration at the Winter Carnival, there will be a number of athletes that will be joining us there,” said Patti Kauf-Melehes, the director of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Foundation. “It’s a really unique Steamboat event. People get to know current, former and future Olympians.”

Individual tickets are $150 and available at Christy Sports locations in Gondola Square and Central Park Plaza.

Tickets also are available online by clicking here or by calling Kauf-Melehes at 970-761-0033. There also will be a limited number of tickets available at the door.

The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at The Steamboat Grand. It will feature a cocktail party, dinner, live entertainment and dancing. There also will be silent and live auctions that will benefit the Winter Sports Club.

Auction items include winter and summer trips, dining packages, shopping packages and ski passes among other items.

“We have a little bit of everything,” Kauf-Melehes said.

Last year’s event raised more than $70,000 and Kauf-Melehes said the goal this year is to exceed $100,000.

The foundation serves as the Winter Sports Club’s endowment fund. It currently has about $2.3 million and contributes 5 percent of its earnings annually to the club's operation. Last year, it donated $127,000 to the Winter Sports Club.

The goal of the foundation, Kauf-Melehes said, is for the endowment to reach $10 million, which she said would secure the future of the Winter Sports Club.

Donations to the foundation or the Winter Sports Club qualify for a 25 percent Colorado income tax credit.

To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com