‘Investing in Eternity’: Benefit auction planned for Canyonview

By Brenna Wiegand

Canyonview Camp holds its annual Benefit Dinner and Auction Saturday, Nov. 5.

The popular event, “Investing in Eternity,” is the camp’s primary fundraiser, providing “camperships” to enable all kids the Canyonview experience.

Jim Krieg, Canyonview Camp Guest Services Director, said the camp’s Family Groups consist solely of foster children and their camp leaders.

Additional funds help cover camp operations, facility improvements and the Canyonview Equestrian College Scholarship Fund.

The Great Balloon Pop, benefitting Canyonview Equestrian College, entails selling 100 balloons at $10 a “pop,” each containing a gift certificate ranging from $5 to $50.

Organizers still need donations of gift certificates and silent auction items; those wishing to donate should call the camp office.

Krieg said the bid for camp scholarships is much simpler.

“(During the auction) we just say ‘We’re going to do the scholarships now; raise your hands for $25,’ and all these hands go up,” he said.

The event begins at 5 p.m. with the silent auction featuring items grouped by categories including: Marriage, Parenting, Christian Growth, Sports and Recreation, Indoor Hobbies, Outdoor Hobbies, Equestrian, Farm & Garden and Entertainment.

The gourmet dinner and dessert will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the live auction.

Live auction items include two halves of beef, a commercial air compressor, an industrial generator, a power washer, a cooking class and dinner for eight, provided by Krieg himself, a certified chef and culinary instructor who recently left his post at Western Culinary Institute to join the Canyonview staff.

Krieg is also heading the night’s meal; a choice of tri-tip steak or yogurt chicken with all the trimmings – including dessert.

Krieg says the camp still feels the loss of Dale Price, who, with father-in-law Ernie Campbell, founded Canyonview in the 1970s. Price died of cancer in April.

The consistently uplifting, fun things he would say still echo through the pastoral, woodsy camp, along with plenty more reminders of his longtime presence – camper name “Buzzard.”

“Just the other day we were trying to figure out where his sprinklers are,” Krieg chuckled.

At the event, Dale’s wife Ruby will introduce the first of two books based on his life. Two Copper Coins is a compilation of Dale’s writings about his journey through cancer and its lessons, made public through his Caring Bridge blog, www.caringbridge.org/visit/daleprice.