Although the title may indicate a specific wing of Hill Air Force Base, the 388th Spouse’s Round Up has benefited all military and civilians who have used the base’s quality-of-life programs for the past nine years. The Round Up is one of the few large-scale fundraisers at Hill AFB that benefits more than 13 programs which help Hill Airmen and their families, such as Operation Warm Heart, Hearts Apart, Hill Hero Dolls and Airmen Against Drunk Driving.
The 10th annual silent and live auction fundraiser will happen Sept. 17 at Club Hill, starting at 5 p.m.
“The spouses who comprise the 388th Spouses Round Up committee have planned a fantastic western themed event for Friday, Sept. 17,” says Tonya Ulmer, co-chairwoman of the fundraising committee. “These spouses represent a diverse group from every organization under the 388th Fighter Wing, 419th Fighter Wing, 729th Air Control Squadron, 75th Air Base Wing, and the Ogden Air Logistics Center, and we also have spouses from the Enlisted Spouses Club, plus civilians on our team.”
“The Round Up began as a way for the spouses of the 388th Fighter Wing to raise money for base programs and it has evolved to become not just a 388th spouse’s fundraiser, but also an opportunity for any spouse of any organization on base to support a quality of life program,” says Kay Zobrist, a 388th Spouses Round Up committee member and spouse to 388th FW Commander Col. Scott Zobrist. “The great thing about Round Up is not only are we raising money to support quality of life programs for Team Hill members and their families, which is our primary goal, but we get to network and create friendships with the spouses of many of the organizations at Hill Air Force Base.”
Aside from the networking and fundraising for base programs, the Round Up also provides an opportunity for everyone in the surrounding community to purchase one-of-a-kind items.
“We will auction golf packages, a helicopter tour, unique arts and crafts for home embellishments,” says Donations Committee Chairwoman Lacey Worrell. “We have getaway packages for Moab and local hotel packages; F-16 and F-35 models courtesy of Lockheed Martin with the Hill Air Force Base tail flash painted on them courtesy of Afterburner Decals; a dinner and wine tasting for 10 at Zucca restaurant in Ogden, and many more unique items that would make great gifts for others.”
“The event is three months before the holiday season and it is a great opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts to give to one’s family, and allow plenty of time to mail off before the holiday rush,” says Ulmer. “It is a great way to give gifts while supporting our local military and civilian communities.”
The military spouses and volunteers who operate the fundraising group say there will be more offered at the event other than the opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind items that solely benefit fellow Airmen and civilians.
Ulmer says that event-goers will get a lot for the ticket price. “A $15 ticket covers entrance to the live and silent auction; a live band from the 729th ACS called Hush House will perform country and other popular music; you can try your eight seconds of glory by taking a ride on the mechanical bull; and plenty of tasty food will be served, to include brisket carving stations.”
Worrell says there will also be bidding items available that will fit any budget, from baked goods baskets to family passes baskets to local amusement parks that will begin at small bid amounts. “No matter what items interest our guests, any donation helps.”
“Most of the money raised during Round Up supports activities for deployed members and families,” says Tech. Sgt. Terri Davis, 75th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center Readiness non-commissioned officer. “It allows our Hearts Apart program to provide dinners to families of deployed military members on special holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as food and drinks for the Movie Nights we host once a month at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. We also recently took several families of deployed military members to Raging Waters water park, and other times we assemble care packages to send to the deployed family member.”
Davis says such events cannot use government funds and are funded solely from fundraisers or private donations, which are monitored through the Utah Military Families Foundation.
Ulmer adds that much of the support for the Round Up event has come from community partners who support the Hill AFB community. “It’s truly a rewarding experience partnering with our community friends such as local business owners, the Falcons, the Honorary Commanders, the Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee and the Air Force Association. They’ve supported our cause by donating corporate sponsorships, donating goods and services for silent auction baskets and live auction items and purchasing tickets to attend the event. They have stepped up to the challenge and embraced the opportunity to support the spouses and the needs of our Team Hill family. Now we would like to offer our military folks the opportunity to support this event by purchasing a ticket to attend and have a great time meeting our community supporters and shop for great items.”
The Round Up event is open to anyone age 18 years or older with access to Hill AFB, as well as their community guests. Unsponsored community guests will need to pre-register before Sept. 13 in order to be placed on a guest list at the base gates.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Rhiannon Lucero via e-mail at rounduptickets@yahoo.com or by calling (801) 317-4766. Ticket sales will end Sept. 15 by 3 p.m.
