CHANGING LIVES AND INSPIRING LEARNING THROUGH SCIENCE AND WONDER.
The Italian Dinner & Auction is an evening of dancing, dining, live and silent auctions, games, and more! First held in 1986, the Italian Dinner is CSC's largest fundraiser with its success tied to the generous donations and auction items from members and businesses throughout our community. Now in its 37th year the Italian Dinner is organized and coordinated by the Catawba Science Center Guild and the Science Ambassadors, a group of young learners that help with many of CSC's fundraising projects.
Doors open a few hours before dinner and guests can enjoy lively games to win prizes, drink specialty cocktails, and bid on silent auction items. Dinner is served in the ballroom and typically includes wine, salad, entrée, bread, and dessert followed by live auction and entertainment.
Our live auction items range from travel excursions to orthodontics. During the dinner guests can participate in popular games such as Last Man Standing and Heads or Tails with the purchase of a 'Blinky Light'. Each year Catawba Science Center highlights an internal project that needs particular attention called Fund-A-Cause. The Fund-A-Cause project for 2024 will focus on CSC’s aquarium renovation, raising the necessary funds to begin the design and feasibility study for the capital campaign.
What are you waiting for? The Italian Dinner is a night of fun you don't want to miss out on!
Check back in November 2024 for our theme and date for 2025! We'll see you there!
Become a Nova Sponsor! Contact Lee Bogle at cscdev@catawbascience.org or 828.322.8169 x. 323
Platinum NOVA
Corning Optical Communications
Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Hickory
Prosecco Cart Sponsored by Mike Johnson Toyota
Gold NOVA
Beats Fitness, LLC
David E. Looper & Company
Hickory Heights Dental
Moore, Hackney & Associates
Paramount Automotive
Patrick, Harper, & Dixon, LLP
Shuford Yarns
SkinDocSocks
Townes and Robert Wessels
USConec
Silver NOVA
Carolina Container
Catawba Valley Health System
David Leonetti & Pam Elske-Leonetti
Ernest K. Sills, Architect
Hickory Dermatology at Viewmont
Legacy Oral Surgery
UNC Health Blue Ridge
Bronze NOVA
Graystone Eye, Dr. Joshua Paschall
Lilly Thomas Boutique
Mr. & Mrs. George Moretz
Southeast Pain & Spine Care, Dr. Cameron S. Cunningham
In-Kind
The Balloonista
Whitfield's Flowers & More
The Catawba Science Center’s Guild is comprised of a dedicated group of volunteers who help organize, coordinate, staff, and host the annual Italian Dinner & Auction fundraiser each spring. Organized in February 1986, the Guild spends numerous volunteer hours developing a unique theme, concepts, and décor as well as obtaining all the donations for the live and online auctions all original to that year. Through the Guild’s generous support, CSC’s largest annual fundraiser continues to provide necessary funding for our educational programming and exhibits. Meetings are held September through April annually.
Interested? Contact Lee Bogle at cscdev@catawbascience.org or 828.322.8169 x. 323
Please RSVP to Lee Bogle or Mitzi Cunningham
Mitzi Cunningham — President
Amanda McGuire
Brandi Fairchild
Danielle Pardue
Gigi Miller
Jen Harper
Jennifer Melon
Jessica Carson
Jordan Magel
Julie McGinnis
Kathryn Jones
Katherine Howell
Krystina Snyder
Lee Bogle
Megan Johnson
Monica Harker
Payton Moore
Rebecca Sellers
Sarah Davis
Looking for more ways to help financially support Catawba Science Center? Click here or contact the Development Office at donorrelations@catawbascience.org or 828.322.8169x. 313
Fabulous and I don’t often give praise. We took our grandson and were there for hours. He loved it and so did we.
This place was great. We have kids from 8 to 1 and they all had a great time. What I really liked is most of the exhibits are hands on and that really kept them occupied.
What a wonderful place to visit! Great environment to learn and the staff is very helpful! Hickory is lucky to have great family education and entertainment.
Took the kiddos and they loved it. Employees were nice and helpful. If your looking for something to do with the kids give this place a shot.
We love the Science Center! I take my 2 and 4 year old boys weekly to play and enjoy the exhibits. The staff are wonderful and the classes offered are excellent! We are so blessed to have such an amazing resource in our area.
