By Samantha SLAYBACK

What started seven years ago as a way to encourage the Korean community to get more involved in the Crescenta Valley Instrumental Music program has morphed into a highly anticipated annual fundraiser. The seventh annual Korean barbecue fundraiser takes place on Sept. 12 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the quad at Crescenta Valley High School and promises lots of tasty foods and live entertainment.

The KBBQ event has grown and evolved over the years, including changes being made from last year. In 2014, the fundraiser was moved from its March date to September, which proved to be a great kick-off event for the beginning of the school year. Due to that success, the date change remained and a change in the times of the event implemented this year. Previously held in the early afternoon, this year’s Sept. 12 event was moved to a time closer to dinner, keeping guests’ interests in mind.

“We are hoping by moving it later in the day that people will be able to eat dinner and stay around for the entertainment,” said CVIM 1st VP of Fundraising, Tracey Black. “It should be a cooler and less busy time of day for our attendees.”

The prices have also changed this year with tickets selling for $15 each. While the price has increased modestly, Black ensures the barbecue portions will be larger.

The CVIM program has approximately $60,000 in yearly expenses, and the annual fundraiser assists in covering those costs.

“Our biggest need at the moment is to acquire a box truck to help transport the equipment for our growing program,” explained Black. “We have outgrown our trailer and have needed to rent a U-Haul truck, which is a huge expense.”

This year, aside from covering the regular expenses, the program is hoping to raise enough money for a truck too. Last year, the event was nearly sold out, dishing out approximately 800 platefuls of Korean barbecue.

The event has been more successful each year and couldn’t happen without the help of the volunteers. The Korean barbecue fundraiser is organized by CVIM parents; this year’s core planning team includes Black, Carrie Lee, Esther Moon and Fred Davis. These parents are also responsible for recruiting additional volunteers to help.

“It takes many volunteers to make this happen; there are several groups involved,” said Black. “The 1st VP of Fundraising organizes the logistics, publicity and entertainment. A group of Korean parents organizes, purchases and prepares the food, and CVIM volunteers coordinate raffle prizes donated by businesses in the local community.”

Black has been involved every year since the fundraiser’s introduction in 2009, though this year will be her last year participating as her daughter will be graduating in June.

“It has been an important event to me since I was involved in its inception and have seen it grow and change into an annual event that the community looks forward to,” said  Black. “My role has been to organize the event’s logistics, collect raffle prizes, and get as many volunteers involved as possible, especially the Korean parents of music students.”

CVIM students have been partially in charge of ticket sales. As an incentive, students are entered into a raffle for donated prizes each time they sell five tickets. To encourage students to sell as many tickets as possible, the top ticket seller is awarded a donated gift card.

The event promises to be entertaining with live performances from a variety of artistic groups. Sa-Mul-Nori, a Korean percussion performance, will be taking place, along with performances by the Martial Way tae kwon do demo team, the Jeremy Benson Band jazz combo, and, of course, the CV jazz band.

Potential prizes to be won in the event’s raffle include a behind the scenes tour for “Entertainment Tonight,” a Bob Smith Toyota car details package ($150 value), tickets to the Philharmonic, and VIP tickets to the Ellen DeGeneres show. The grand prize is a day at Disneyland for two.

“We would love for the community to come out and show support for the talented musicians of the CV Instrumental Music Department by joining us for an evening of wonderful food and music,” said Black. “We are hoping for a great turnout this year.”

Tickets can be purchased from CVIM students and will be sold at the event until sold out.

CV High School is located at 2900 Community Ave. in La Crescenta.

  Samantha SLAYBACK