Bethel Bounty a prized event for foundation
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Em Vennare accepts the Sarris basket of chocolates from Mia Hogue as Bethel Bounty emcee Andy Amrhein enjoys the process of awarding more than 50 raffle prizes. The annual event is the biggest fundraising effort for the Bethel Park Community Foundation.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bridgeville-South Fayette Rotary president and Brentwood Bank vice president Joe Verduci (right) and his wife, Karen, entertain Rowdy B.B.Q. owners Dave and Lema Skeddle (left) during the Bethel Bounty.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Christine Swain and Dominica Konovich select the picture that they had taken of themselves at the photo booth. Emme (elite’s magical mirro experience) was a new addition to the Bethel Bounty and a big hit among the crowd of more than 300 guests.
The Bethel Park Community Foundation sponsors Bethel Bounty, and it’s the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. In 20 years, the group has donated over a million dollars in scholarships and grants to students and businesses in the municipality.
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Bethel Bakery owners John and Christine Walsh pose for a photo at their display table with workers Rachel Wanovich and CeCe Schein. The bakery is a favorite among Bethel Bounty attendees, not to mention citizens of the municipality.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eric and Michele Nickolas, owners of Toss Pizza and Wings, served up many slices, including the store’s specialty Pittsburgh pie that comes complete with French fries, ranch dressing and bacon.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Trolley Stop Inn owner Brian Wolfe (left) and his assistant, Scott Farine, serve up some of the restaurant’s specialties, such as meatballs and Vermont cheddar cheese macaroni during the Bethel Bounty.
Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Nemacolin Country Club executive chef Jeremy Critchfield serves up fresh fried mozzarella with tomato sauce to Angela Kszastowski as house manager Kim Codelington (background) looks on during the Bethel Bounty. It was the first appearance at the event for the Nemacolin Country Club, which donated four dinners as one of the 50 door prizes featured in the raffles.
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Erin Musciano places raffle tickets into bags in the hopes of winning one of the more than 50 prizes given away during Bethel Bounty.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Friends of Evey True Value Hardware who attended the Bethel Bounty included Scott and Kim Dunn as well as Glenn and Marsha Richards.
Bethel Bounty co-chairpersons Andy Amrhein and Katie Hogue discuss the evening’s events.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Joan Morton enjoys a chat with an old friend, John Walsh, the owner of Bethel Bakery, during the Bethel Bounty event.
Shannon and Brian Schlatterer served up some of their specialties like macaroni and cheese and pulled pork during Bethel Bounty. The Schlatterers are the owners of Crave. The latest eatery in Bethel Park features gourmet hot dogs and barbecue.
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Mayor Jack Allen (center) and his wife, Mary Kay, left, and daughter, Kimberly Kamenicky, were again among the 16 food vendors participating in the Bethel Bounty. Allen owns the Dairy Queen franchise in Bethel Park.
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Members of the Bethel Park High School Interact Club including (from left) Sarah Carroll, Abigail Goldenberg, Emily Ashton, Faith Clunan and Addison Hill volunteered their time to help with Bethel Bounty.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
District Judge Ron Arnoni (center) was among the more than 300 guests who attended the Bethel Bounty, which is the primary fundraiser event for the Bethel Park Community Foundation.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jessica Homer, George Hess and Matt Melczheck enjoyed their first year at Bethel Bounty. Hess owns and operates a physical therapy business in the municipality.
Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
More than 300 guests attended Bethel Bounty. The event sold out within two weeks and all funds raised advance the needs of the community and school, thanks to grants and scholarships provided by the Bethel Park Community Foundation.
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John Carberry claims one of the 50 prizes for his mother, Rosemary, that were raffled off during Bethel Bounty.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Gretchen Boyan, Dana Walker and Debbie DelPercio served up comfort food from Cyd West Catering during the Bethel Bounty.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jess Mancosh and her husband, Michael, enjoy their pizza and wings supplied by Toss Pizza and Wings located on McMuarry Road.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Jennifer Parisi, Julie Noll and John Rambo represented Metz Catering, which supplies the food service for the Bethel Park School District. On the menu were hamburger sliders and potato salad.
The Pie Place was one of 16 vendors at the annual Bethel Bounty event held Nov. 6 at the Crowne Plaza-South.
Brody Pava, Em Vennare, Peyton Michaels, and Jen Smith were among the many volunteers who helped pull off a successful Bethel Bounty event for the Bethel Park Community Foundation.
Food or prizes? There seems to be some disagreement as to why more than 300 people flocked to the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South on Nov. 6 to attend Bethel Bounty.
The annual event is the primary fundraiser for the Bethel Park Community Foundation (BPCF). The municipality’s largest philanthropic organization has raised more than $1 million in 20 years to provide scholarships and grants to students, businesses and organizations within the community.
Of the event, which featured some 16 food vendors and more than 50 raffled prizes, Raj Jadhav said that it is good to see all the local businesses and the community present in one place. A Peters Township resident, Jadhav is one of three investors/owners in Highpoint Fitness Center, located in the AHN Health and Wellness Pavilion on Higbee Drive.
“I like the awards that they do at the end of the show especially,” he said of the prize raffles. “I would still be here even if they didn’t have food. It’s a fun event. You get to see some people that you don’t normally see in your everyday life.”
Andy Amrhein is glad to hear such comments. A lifelong BP resident, he is one of Bethel Park Community Foundation’s at-large members and a board of trustee member. He is also the proprietor of Evey True Value Hardware, one of the event’s major sponsors. Plus, Amrhein co-chairs the event with Katie Hogue as well as serves as the event’s emcee.
Amrhein admits the food is the draw, even though this year’s giveaways afforded more chances to win. Local merchants donated high-end to regular prizes: everything from jewelry to paintings; a big-screen television to a fire pit; an Ooni oven to a lightweight vacuum cleaner.
“People love them both, but if you just had a roomful of prizes and no food, I don’t know if they would come back next year,” Armhein said. “Between the food and the wine, the beer and desserts, everyone is very happy and their bellies are full at the end of the day.”
After the sold-out event, the BPCF’s coffers were full, too.
In the past year, the organization has awarded a $30,000 grant to the South Park Theatre for the construction of a concrete patio. A similar amount provided 18 scholarships to students. The Bethel Park Public Library was the recipient of a $13,000 grant, and $10,000 each was donated to the Bethel Park Recreation Farmer’s Market as well as the Bethel Park Historical Society.
“The foundation does so much for the community, and everyone in the community knows about us now,” Amrhein said. “It’s heartwarming that when we have an event like this people want to come and support us.
“We couldn’t do it without the food vendors,” he added. “It’s not a struggle to find them. They want to be part of it too because they know how important it is for them and their businesses. We like showcasing them because without them we couldn’t do the event.”
Among the vendors to provide edibles from their establishments were: Metz Culinary Management, Rowdy BBQ, The Pie Place, Pasta Too, Ma and Pop’s Country Kitchen, Crave, Nemacolin Country Club, Trolley Stop Inn, Rice Inn, Cyd West Comfort Catering, Judy’s Java Join, Toss Pizza and Wings, Spoonwood Brewery, Piada Italian Street Food, Bethel Bakery and Dairy Queen.
In addition to Evey True Value Hardware, sponsors at the $1,000 Diamond level included: Brentwood Bank, Peak Energy, Bethel Bakery and Santel Landscaping and Design. The $500 Platinum sponsors included: Staley Electric, 412 Property Sisters, Highpoint Fitness, Bob McTiernan, Tucker Arnsberg, Sam Moore and Hess Physical Therapy
Added TouchesWhile the food and prizes are staples of Bethel Bounty, the event added a few new touches this year.
In addition to members of the high school’s National Honor Society, the Interact Club and the Young Marines served as volunteers, performing essential tasks such as bussing tables and assisting in other areas.
“We do a lot of community service, including outside events like this,” said Addison Hill of the Interact Club. “We’re here to help. We serve. That’s what we do.”
Bethel Bounty made a good first impression upon Hill and her 10 volunteers.
“It is absolutely beautiful how everything is put together,” said the senior. “I can tell a lot of work was put into it with all the raffle baskets and all the organization with the tables and the vendors outside.”
Hill and her friends were eager to sample items, especially the goodies from Bethel Bakery.
“They always have something very nicely put together. Just very well-rounded,” Hill said.
Brody Pava agreed. In full military regalia, he has been involved in the Young Marines since his mother saw them perform a ceremony at the Jefferson Memorial Cemetery, Funeral Home, Crematory & Arboretum in Pleasant Hills.
Pava said the Young Marines and Bethel Bounty are both great programs.
“It’s pretty fun, and everything looks so nice,” he observed. “Lots of food. Bethel Bakery is what I want to try,” he added.
Joan Morton adores Bethel Bakery as much as Bethel Bounty itself. A former teacher and the wife of the former mayor (Clifford), she relished the opportunity to reconnect with old friends like John Walsh, owner of the bakery. She also shared memories with a parent whose children she had in class.
“This is one of my favorite places,” Morton said. “I love to be here because of all the people and friendliness. We meet all kinds of wonderful people here and many from out of the past.”
Guests, like Morton and many others, had the opportunity to document the event thanks to a free photo booth. Emme (elite’s magical mirror experience) provided the services, a first for Bethel Bounty.
“It was something different that we felt could appeal to everyone. We thought it would add to the fun,” said Katie Hogue, who helped chair the event with Amrhein.
Hogue noted the company donated the booth and all photos were complimentary and texted to individually. It was just another added touch that makes the event special.
“I think it is the coming together of business and all the community members. We have everyone here from the school board to the mayor, to the students, adults and businesspeople. They are all coming together for one purpose. Raising money for the foundation is special because all the funds go right back into the community. It’s all about supporting the community that is near and dear to our hearts.”
Bethel Park certainly is Amrhein’s favorite spot. He said that he has no desire to ever leave the municipality.
“It’s a big community with a very big heart and a small country feel,” he said. “Everybody knows everyone. I could walk down the street and know 99% of the people I come in contact with, and that’s the way the other people in the community feel. Even when somebody moves to the community, they may not know anybody but within a week, they will have had at least a dozen people come up and introduce themselves.
“That’s Bethel Park,” he continued. “It has a big heart and they care for each other. It is obvious by the people that are here.”
Because of this year’s success – the event sold out within two weeks – Amrhein says Bethel Bounty may be looking for a bigger home. “So we can grow some more,” he noted.
“We are thrilled to death and very excited about the turnout. Everyone is happy and smiling,”
And those who overindulged may wish to heed the advice of George Hess. The owner of Hess Physical Therapy was a first-year attendant. He passed out beverages along with Matt Melczak and Jessica Homer, who are employed at the business located on Fort Couch Road.
“Maybe they should get some rest for a little bit. Let that food digest and then get back to it and exercise to burn off some of those calories. Just don’t get hurt doing it,” he advised.
Hess added it won’t hurt the business to return to Bethel Bounty.
“It’s fantastic. Something terrific in the community,” Hess said.. “The people here are fantasti,c and we were really happy and excited to be part of this and looking forward to being part of it in the future.”