By Mary O’KEEFE

Running for office costs money – lots and lots of money. According to the Federal Election Commission, presidential candidates raised and spent $1.5 billion during the 2015-16 election cycle. Congressional candidates collected and disbursed $1.6 billion.

For generations campaign fundraising has been more of an in-person activity, but over the years direct mail then online advertising partnered with in-person appearances and events to capture that attention of a larger audience of voters. But with COVID-19, fundraising may have faced its biggest challenge.

All parties are facing a change in how they raise funds for their candidates. It’s a time to think outside the box, a time to get creative.

The United Democratic Headquarters of Pasadena, made up of 11 democrat clubs stretching from the San Gabriel Valley to the Los Feliz area, has come up with a new way of holding a traditional fundraising dinner.

“Typically we open our office every two years,” said John Gallogly, UDH member and fundraiser.

After the opening of their offices in Pasadena, club members normally hold a get-together that often includes a fundraising dinner but, due to COVID-19 guidelines, the office is no longer physical but virtual. In response, a virtual fundraising dinner is now planned for July 25.

“We had to figure out a way to put things together virtually,” Gallogly said.

They knew they had to make the dinner something unique to catch people’s attention. They started by getting a well-known chef on board – Chef Claud Beltran of Bacchus’ Kitchen in Pasadena. They added award-winning wines from Napa’s Calmére Estate Winery then invited four local congressional members to take part. And the evening was planned.

There are several levels of participation, from $10,000 that includes up to 10 total seats for dinner and a bottle of wine for each guest, to $250 that includes dinner only. The meals will be delivered to the participants. As the dinner begins so will the virtual participation. Every so often a congressional member will join the dinner – virtually – to discuss issues of concern of their constituents.

At the upcoming dinner, congressional representatives Adam Schiff, Judy Chu, Karen Bass and Jimmy Gomez will be joining the dinner guests.

“People like the idea and we are doing pretty well,” Gallogly said.

For information on the dinner, visit https://www.udh-events.com/.