EVERETT — Will Fred Safstrom, executive director of the Everett Public Facilities District, find a tuxedo that fits?
Safstrom has less than two weeks to rent the perfect black, two-button, notch-lapel tux.
But his quest is for a good cause — a fund-raiser to benefit local youths.
The first Black Tie Gala fund-raising event will open the Conference Center at the Everett Events Center on Nov. 15.
The evening’s festivities will feature a sit-down dinner and music from a 10-piece band in the center’s main ballroom.
Proceeds will benefit the YMCA’s Minority Achievers Program, said J.J. Frank, the program’s founder. Tickets are $80 per person.
The YMCA of Snohomish County after-school program was launched two years ago. Today, more than 200 youths, ages 11 to 19, attend the Minority Achievers Program, whose goal is to provide a safe after-school environment for students.
Frank and a cadre of volunteers provide homework assistance and career counseling to students, who attend the program two days a week, for three hours after school.
"Our goal is to help students of color achieve higher educational and career goals," Frank said.
The program, which has chapters in Marysville and Everett, is open to any student. The YMCA is planning to launch a third chapter by January on the Tulalip Reservation at the New Heritage School.
Since its inception, Minority Achievers has awarded $500 college scholarships to 13 students. Snohomish County has 36,000 minority students.
Frank hopes the Black Tie Gala will allow even more students to join. Its participants regularly report that their grades and self-confidence improves, he said.
The fund-raiser has the sponsorship of the Everett Silvertips Hockey Club.
Zoran Rajcic, the Silvertips’ marketing director, said it’s the perfect pairing. "We can look to a partnership in future years."
The fund-raiser also will help raise money for the Silvertips’ College Scholarship fund. The young hockey players are given a year’s free college tuition at a public college for every year they play for the Western Hockey League team, Rajcic said.
But the evening’s dress code, tuxedoes for men, gowns for women, has Safstrom sounding nervous. "I haven’t worn a tuxedo since my wedding," Safstrom said. "Are there that many tuxedo shops in Everett?"
Anthony Epperson of Gary’s Tux Shop at Everett Mall, responded: "Even though men are natural slackers, we can get stuff in. We have sizes from 18 boys to 62 men "
"Tell Mr. Safstrom not to worry."
Reporter Janice Podsada:
425-339-3029 or podsada@heraldnet.com.
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