The Way to Ensure a Future of Safe Water Is Through Your Stomach

This article was originally published in the 2016 Summer issue of NC Currents.

Learn more about the NC Safewater Endowment Program at www.ncsafewater.org/Scholarships.

By Chris Belk, P.E., Past Chair, Hazen and Sawyer

This past Fall the NCAWWA-WEA Endowment Committee, guided by Ms. Linnell Stanhope of Crowder Construction Company, came up with a novel idea for fundraising for the NC Safewater Endowment Scholarship Fund. That idea was to host a fundraising dinner. While I’m sure this idea initially concerned several members of the committee, some of whom I’m sure were worried about what dish they may have to prepare, Linnell quickly put those fears to rest by offering up the services of her son, Jason. No, this was not a punishment for some dastardly deed; this was because Jason Stanhope, as the executive chef of Fig in Charleston, SC, loves to cook, is capable of cooking for large crowds, and like his mother, loves to give back. Jason is the 2015 James Beard award winner for Best Chef in the Southeast. This is a tremendous honor and means Jason has been recognized by his peers as one of the best chefs in the world!

By now your mouth should be watering just imagining the different dishes such a chef could prepare. But Linnell and Jason had more ideas. Jason is friends with NC State graduate and chef, Ashley Christensen, the culinary force behind several popular Raleigh restaurants and bars, like Death & Taxes, Bridge Club, Chuck’s, Joule Coffee & Table, Beasley’s Chicken & Honey, Fox Liquor Bar, and Poole’s Diner. Ashley is the 2014 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef in the Southeast and was nominated for the 2016 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award. Jason and Ashley agreed to collaborate on a menu for the dinner .

The fundraising dinner was first advertised at our annual conference in Raleigh where four tickets to this inaugural event were included in the silent auction. I was the proud winner of those tickets. An additional 54 people also attended the dinner, including one corporate sponsor, Pepsi Bottling Ventures of Raleigh.

An added benefit of winning the auctioned tickets, at least this year, was the opportunity to help set the date for the event, which was held on February 21, 2016 at Ashley’s Joule Coffee and Table in downtown Raleigh. Piedmont Wines was on hand as you walked in the door, ready to pour you an aperitif of rosy champagne. All night long, Piedmont Wines paired Italian wines with each of the five courses, carefully chosen to complement but not overpower the chef’s dish. Jason and Ashley prepared two courses each and then the dinner concluded with a fabulous desert. As each new course was served, the chefs came into the dining room to introduce it. Jason and Ashley explained what was in each dish, its inspiration, how it was prepared, and the source of the ingredients – some of which were local to Raleigh, NC, and some local to Charleston, SC.

That fabulous dinner helped ensure safe, clean water for my children, because a portion of the proceeds from all of the ticket sales went to fund NCAWWA-WEA’s eleven scholarships for future water professionals and educators.

In my opinion, this is the best fundraiser (and best dinner) I have ever attended. An ingenious idea that drew members of our own association to Raleigh from all over the state, and unlike many of our events catered to those both inside and outside of our organization, such as Pepsi Bottling Ventures. Even after all expenses were paid (note: Jason and Ashley both donated their time and skills), this event raised over $8,000 for the Scholarship Fund. The endowment committee is already making plans for next year’s event and may hold two events, one in Raleigh and one in Charlotte.

Check out our scholarships, because you, your child, or your child’s teacher may be eligible. A perfect example of how giving to the scholarship fund gives back to our membership is Meredith Bullard,  the current recipient of the Frank and Susan Stephenson Water Environment Scholarship. Meredith is the daughter of NCAWWA-WEA member Mike Bullard of Hazen and Sawyer. She has utilized the scholarship to help fund her studies at NC State University in Civil Engineering with a focus in Water Resources, and hopes to go on and get a Master’s degree and/or work in academia.