More than 500 guests enjoy dinner and atmosphere at the University Museum’s annual Harvest Supper on the grounds of Rowan Oak. Photo by Christina Steube/Ole Miss Communications
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Museum’s sixth annual Harvest Supper raised more than $120,000 earlier this month for museum exhibits and programming.
The catered event, on the grounds of William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak, attracted some 550 guests, all of whom bought tickets in support of the museum.
“This event provides money to the museum for exhibitions, lectures and more education for children,” said Gayle Henry, a Friends of the Museum board member. “It allows the university to reach more people and have the best exhibits.”
Besides ticket sales, money was also raised through a silent auction and a live auction featuring pieces by Mississippi artists. The live auction included a sculpture by Tom Corbin, who has previously exhibited at the museum.
“Harvest Supper is an exceptional fundraising event that brings together museum and Rowan Oak stakeholders and supporters from across the region and the country,” said Robert Saarnio, museum director. “The entire spirit of the evening is one of such positive goodwill for us that it sustains our energy and passion for our work, at the same time that it raises critically needed support.
“We are deeply grateful to the Friends of the Museum and the attendees for their hard work and generous participation on our behalf.”
The Harvest Supper began in 2011 with the idea that the museum needed a way to increase funding to grow. The small gathering of around 100 people has grown into a major event.
“Nearly impossible to imagine that in six short years, a dinner for a few people interested in helping fun museum projects has grown into the gala I experienced for the first time last night,” said Debbie Nelson, the museum’s membership, events and communications coordinator. “I am impressed by the volunteers and staffing behind the scenes as well as night of event.
“The combination of generous benefactors, ambiance of Rowan Oak, musical entertainers and cuisine that rivals any outdoor banquet makes Harvest Supper a ‘must-experience” evening in Oxford each year.”
This year’s event had more than 100 sponsors, including presenting sponsors Diane and Dickie Scruggs and the Madison Charitable Foundation; platinum level sponsors Darrell Crawford, Kent and David Magee, Elizabeth and Will Galtney and The Self Foundation; and gold level sponsors Marty and John Dunbar, Marla and Lowry Lomax, Friends of Dorothy and Tom Howorth, Elizabeth and Jeff Lusk, Hardy Reed, Saint Leo, Howorth & Associates Architects, Rose and Hubert Spears, Mary M. Thompson, Carol and Bill Windham and Ken Wooten and Margaret Wylde.
A full list of sponsors can be found here.
For more information about the museum, its exhibits and events, visit http://museum.olemiss.edu/.