Prized event: Bethel’s Bounty a hit with new and old

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Arlene Shull enthusiastically reacts after receiving one of the raffle prizes during Bethel's Bounty. Shull was among eight lucky winners among her friends, seated together and gathered for the fundraising event for the Bethel Park Community Foundation. In the background is Pam Dobos. Dobos and her husband, Mike, walked away with one of the grand prizes, a 70-inch television.

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Trustees and members of the Bethel Park Community Foundation organize and sponsor Bethel's Bounty. The annual event, held the first Sunday in November, raises funds to be dispersed throughout the municipality for philantrophic efforts. Visit www.bpcf.org to learn more about the group or to inquire about receiving a grant from the organization.

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Lauren Abruzzi and Austin Dami toast each other with a slice of pizza from Toss during festivities at Bethel's Bounty. The couple won two airline tickets to Florida as well as a night's stay at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh during the raffle prize portion of the fundraising event for the Bethel Park Community Foundation.

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Mary Amrhein reacts to receiving a University of Pittsburgh sports basket from Christine McIntosh during the raffle portion of Bethel's Bounty. Amrhein is perplexed because as a West Virginia graduate, she did not place a ticket in the raffle basket. Amrhein's husband, Andy, a Pitt fan, however, did enter her into the raffle.

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Allen Levine enthusiastically accepts a sampling of items served up by Pasta Too during the annual Bethel's Bounty event.

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Eric Nickolas along with his wife and daughter, Robin and Michele, pose for a photo during a break from serving up pizza and wings from their eatery. Toss Pizza and Wings restaurant was among the 20 food vendors participatin in Bethel's Bounty.

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Thanks to Sara Impellicceire (center), Bonefish Grill participated in Bethel's Bounty for the first time. Pictured with Impellicceire, who works at the restaurant and is a member of the Bethel Park DECA club, are Devin Turner and Schellbe Muszynski.

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Brad Benjamin and Ruth Brinegar make their selection and prepare to place their tickets into the raffle for a gift basket during Bethel's Bounty.

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Mia Propcheck and Abigail Goldenberg from the Bethel Park Interact Club sell 50/50 raffle tickets to Joe Consolmagno during Bethel's Bounty.

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Martina Tatalias helps Pam Dobos fill out her raffle tickest while Erin Musciano (left) and Mike Dobos look on. The Dobos family were big winners at Bethel's Bounty. Among the prizes they won was a 70-inch screen television.

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Lynn Dunbar was one of the big winners at Bethel's Bounty. During the raffle portion of the event, she won a pair of diamond earrings donated by South Hills Jewelers.

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Sabrina Tatalias (right) and Andy Amrhein (left) talk with guests at Bethel's Bounty. The pair served as chairpersons for the annual event that raises funds for the Bethel Park Community Foundation to disperse throughout the municipality.

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Christine McIntosh leans in to check the ticket as emcee Andy Amrhein announces the lucky winner of one of the door prizes at Bethel's Bounty.

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Britney Hollick, president of the Bethel Park Community Foundation, presents Amanda Oakes with her gift basket.

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A soldout crowd of more than 300 guests attended the annual Bethel's Bounty. The fundraising event for the Bethel Park Community Foundation was held Nov. 10 at the Crowne Plaza Suites Pittsburgh South.

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Dina Talalias accepts her prize basket from her daughers, Martina and Sabrina, as Britney Hollick looks on. Sabrina Talias served as chairperson of this year's Bethel'a Bounty event.

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Bethel Park Community Foundation vice president Andy Amrhein (right) presented Ken Benvenuti with the 50/50 raffle winnings during Bethel's Bounty.

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John Carberry (center back) is a member of the Bethel Park Community Foundation and a business owner in the municipality. A lifelong Bethel Park resident, Carberry is part owner of HighPoint Fitness. Attending Bethel's Bounty with him were family members and employees from the fitness center. From left are: John Carberry (center back) is a member of the Bethel Park Community Foundation and a business owner in the municipality. A lifelong Bethel Park resident, Carberry is part owner of HighPoint Fitness. Attending Bethel's Bounty with him were family members and employees from the fitness center. From left are: (front) Beth Medina, Catherine Carberry, Rose Carberry, Joe Carberry, (back) Erin Veseleny, Sandy Jasante, John Carberry, Grant Jasante and Matt Veseleny.

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Mandy Mowry samples a signature cake from Bethey Bakery during festivities at the annual Bethel's Bounty, a celebration of food, community and friendship in an effort to raise funds for Bethel Park Community Foundation endeavors.

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Members of the Bethel Park Interact Club helped serve and assist guests at Bethel's Bounty. Pictured from left are (front) Ailey Laskovich, Sophia Kehrer and Mia Propcheck; (back) Sarah Jakel, Kristen Weiss, Danny Foor, Parker Walton, Ella Sabanovic, Zach Pschirer, George Danchik, Jackie Pivetz and Abigail Goldenberg.

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Best friends since age 4, Lauren Abruzzi and Austin Dami have shared many experiences but they never attended Bethel’s Bounty before this year.

The primary fundraiser for the Bethel Park Community Foundation (BPCF), held Nov. 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, however, will be long remembered by the Canonsburg couple.

Abruzzi and Dami won two airline tickets to Florida as well as a night’s stay at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh during the gift basket raffles. They plan to vacation in Key West.

“I am still shaking,” said Dami after being handed his prize package.

“We’re livin’ large,” added Abruzzi.

Abruzzi and Dami, who grew up in the Lawrence and Hendersonville sections of Cecil Township, said they “loved” the event. They added it was “so exciting” to be part of the festivities.

“This is our first time here,” they said. “We did not expect so many raffle prizes and food vendors.”

As chairperson of the event, Sabrina Tatalias was thrilled with that response, a consensus among the 300 guests in attendance. It means that her “new approach” to procuring prizes paid off.

“We have a lot of new sponsors this year, which really shows how much the community comes together to support a wonderful organization, which is the BPCF,” she said. “Prizes were more entertainment-based. So there were more tickets and experiences, which is something that I wanted to prioritize. So I was really excited about the prizes this year.”

Folks were equally thrilled with the food vendors. Among the eateries were: Bethel Bakery, TOSS Pizza and Wings, Metz Culinary and Catering, Sarris Candies, Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen, Pasta Too, Cyd West Comfort Catering, Rowdy BBQ, The Pie Place, Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings, Rice Inn, and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Additionally, Dairy Queen provided coupons for a free small blizzard to each attendee.

The BPCF was delighted to add Bonefish Grill to the edible line-up this year. The establishment offered samplings of its roasted shrimp taco with mango salsa alongside a shrimp and scallop item with a lime wedge and cilantro sprig.

Sara Impellicceire works at the restaurant. The Bethel Park High School student was using Bonefish Grill for her DECA project.

“She chose this event specifically,” said Schellbe Muszynski, who manages the Bonefish Grill, located near South Hills Village. “We were happy to come out and be part of the community, show our face and support Sara as well.

“I am thrilled to be here and excited to meet all these people and be out in the community. I cannot even wait until next year (to do this again).”

BPCF vice president and event host Andy Amrhein echoed Musynski’s enthusiasm.

“Bonefish Grill is a nice addition,” he said. “They are excited to be here. They bought a full marketing team and they are very happy.”

Tatalias was equally enthused. “I am really excited about Bonefish,” she said. “That’s a good addition, especially since we are right across the street from their location. It’s a good way to get new business to come into the area.”

Tatalias also noted that she tried to make things “a little more efficient” in her second year as chairperson for the evening. In addition to new additions to the food line-up, the Crowne Plaza ballroom and foyer featured high-top tables.

“This was more helpful to have guests stay and walk around and mingle a little more than sitting at tables,” she said. “We tried to make it a better experience, especially with how we do the raffle pulls. It proved to be faster for guests.

“It was also exciting to see all the winners,” she added.

Among the other big prize winners were: Mike Dobos, who took home the grand prize of a 70-inch television; Lynn Dunbar, who was the recipient of diamond earrings donated by South Hills Jewelers; and Ken Benvenuti, who took home more than $1,000 from the 50/50 raffle.

Whether the raffles or the food, Ruth Brinegar and Brad Benjamin enjoyed the camaraderie the event provided. Brinegar, who resides in South Strabane, worked for the Bethel Park School District while Benjamin hails from Wheeling. They attended the event with friends from the municipality.

“We love everything about Bethel’s Bounty,” Brinegar said. “We enjoy the food and the raffles as well as reconnecting with people from Bethel Park. Plus, it’s for a good cause.”

Proceeds from Bethel’s Bounty benefit BPCF endeavors. The nonprofit organization embraces a philosophy of local philanthropy. The group provides grants and funding for local community and school groups as well as other area initiatives.

“The foundation has been around for 27 years and we started Bethel’s Bounty maybe two years after that,” Amrhein said.

“In a couple of ways this year’s is the biggest and best. The event sold out in two weeks. We fill this place and there are more baskets than we have ever had before. Nicer baskets. Great restaurants,” he emphasized. “Everybody is very, very happy.”