|
For immediate
release
Contact:
Lynn Smolizer 717-260-1861 Ext. 1108
THE NATIONAL
CIVIL WAR MUSEUM HOSTS SUCCESSFUL BLACK TIE FUNDRAISER
General Ulysses S. Grant, portrayed
Guests gather in the "East Room"
by Larry Clowers of Gettysburg,
for dinner with President Lincoln.
talks with former White House
Executive Chef Walter Scheib. Harrisburg,
PA (October 19, 2007) The National Civil War Museum hosted its annual
black tie fundraiser on Friday, October 5, 2007. The successful
fundraiser, entitled Dinner with President Lincoln, featured
former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib and James Hayney as
President Abraham Lincoln. With nearly 250 attendees, the evening
kicked off with a silent auction and a reception, in which Museum
founder Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed made a few special remarks.
The four-course dinner began in the "East Room", in which attendees
stood for the introduction of General Ulysses S. Grant & Mrs. Julia
Grant (portrayed by Larry & Constance Clowers) and for President Lincoln
and Mary Todd Lincoln (portrayed by James Hayney & Saundra Jordan).
Chairman of the Board of the Museum, Neal West greeted attendees and
reported on the great strides the Museum has made in the last few years,
including operating on a balanced budget, new initiatives with Google
Earth and Pennsylvania Civil War Trails and exciting new educational
offerings throughout the year.
President Abraham Lincoln welcomed his audience with brief remarks,
thanking them for their support and for being present for an evening to
benefit The National Civil War Museum. James Hayney, an actor
whose credentials include performing in over 100 stage plays all over
the country and acting in numerous TV films and commercials, is a life
member of the National Association of Abraham Lincoln presenters.
Walter Scheib greeted guests with anecdotes about his time in the White
House under direction of former Presidents Bill Clinton and President
George W. Bush. He discussed the variety of food the first ladies
enjoyed and how both Presidents enjoyed basic "meat and potatoes"
dishes. "So this is what you will be enjoying this evening:
meat and potatoes!" Chef Scheib commented. Prior to his
appointment as Executive Chef at the White House in 1994, Walter Scheib,
a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, was Executive Chef at
The Greenbriar, one of the country's most prestigious resorts.
The proceeds from The National Civil War Museum's fundraiser
totaled nearly $40,000, which included revenue
from business sponsorships, individual ticket sales, general donations
and the silent auction. This amount is triple the
profit from previous fundraising events in the Museum's 6-year history.
The
National Civil War Museum is an educational 501(c)(3) institution
dedicated to preserving Civil War history. Located in Reservoir
Park in Harrisburg, PA, the Museum's seasonal hours of operation are:
Wednesday
through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5:00
p.m. Between April 1 and Labor Day, the Museum is open seven days a week. Admission
to the Museum is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors, and $6.00 for
students. For more information about the museum, please visit the Museum's website at www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org.
###
|
