With nearly a packed classroom, the Wind Creek Cooking Studio was the site of a fundraising event held to benefit the Jefferson Davis Community College Foundation.

JDCC President Dr. Susan McBride said the event was a success thanks to the generosity of Wind Creek officials.

“This was a very gracious gift for the Foundation,” McBride said. “The generosity will make it possible for us to continue to provide scholarships and subsidize honor program trips. We are very appreciative.”

The event, which put nearly $25,000 in the funds for the JDCC Foundation, was presented and hosted by Wind Creek’s Cooking Studio with Chef Ben Spraggins at the helm. The demonstration and instruction covered a variety of dishes suitable for holiday dining.

Renee Hardy, a member of the Foundation, helped to organize the event with the help of Wind Creek marketing members. She said the event was more than she could have hoped to see for the Foundation.

“This was a wonderful fund raising event for the Foundation,” Hardy said. “We are so happy to see such great results. Without the gift of hosting the event by Wind Creek, the funds raised wouldn’t have been possible.”

The first-ever event for the Foundation held at the Cooking Studio is one Hardy says was a year in the making.

“We began talking about a different way to raise funds for the Foundation about a year ago,” Hardy said. “I suggested that a Cooking Studio event might be something different to try as a fundraiser. The Cooking Studio was just opening at that time and the planning was perfect. We’re so excited that the event was appealing to so many people.”

Hardy said the work and planning fell largely on the shoulders of Wind Creek Cooking Studio organizers.

“They were wonderful to work with us on this project,” Hardy said. “Selling tickets was our biggest job for this event. The staff of Wind Creek and the Cooking Studio did all of the work and we are very grateful.”

The JDCC Foundation holds one other large fundraiser each year that has proven to be successful for the group, Hardy said.

“We have our annual golf tournament and have been very fortunate to be successful with that project,” Hardy said. “This year the tourney raised about $8,000 for scholarships and programs. We enjoy that and are thankful for the funds raised at that event, but it is a lot of hard work.”

The new event netted nearly $25,000 for the Foundation through ticket sales and other donations.

“We are so excited to see this event as a success for the Foundation,” Hardy said. “All proceeds of the event went straight to our funds to supply scholarships and support certain programs for the students. We were able to see nearly $25,000 be deposited into the account.”

The Wind Creek Cooking Studio was a great location for such an event, Hardy said.

“With the JDCC campus in Atmore being just up the road from Wind Creek it was like having neighbors join for a cause,” Hardy said. “We appreciate their hospitality and for them opening their home to their neighbors.”

The JDCC Foundation exists to support the educational mission of JDCC by providing scholarships, honors students enrichment activities, faculty and staff professional development activities in order to promote excellence in the classroom; state-of-the-art equipment and instructional programs; campus beautification; and other educational enhancements.

Members of the Foundation Board include President Rosemary Jernigan; Vice President Ed Hines; Treasurer Allen Cave; Secretary Hermine Downing; and members George Hendricks, Sylvia Peach, Renee Hardy, Ann McMillan, Rob Faircloth and Susan McBride.

To learn more about the JDCC Foundation contact any Board member or Jefferson Davis Community College.

To make a contribution or to become a member of the Foundation, send correspondence to JDCC Foundation, P.O. Box 462, Brewton, AL 36427, or contact Jefferson Davis Community College at 867-4832.