‘Taste’ and ‘Savor’ events for CIS attracts support

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

Close to 350 people came out to enjoy a taste of local eateries at the 12th Annual Taste held in Tecumseh Saturday, Feb. 2, at Tecumseh High School. That, coupled with the many who attended the Savor the Experience wine tasting event hosted by United Bank and Trust, brought in just under $38,000 for CIS of Tecumseh.

CIS Director Susan Reeder said it was definitely a good year for the fundraising events. “In these economic times, to have people come out and support us like that I couldn’t be more thrilled,” she said.

This is the twelfth year for the CIS of Tecumseh fundraiser. Reeder said it started out as a small event held in the cafeteria of what now is Tecumseh Middle School. The first Taste event raised $5,000.

“Now with the it being in the high school, we’ve grown from those humble beginnings,” Reeder said. “What a great way to showcase the location and a great way to support CIS and the students in Tecumseh,” she said.

CIS of Tecumseh was incorporated in 1995 as a way to bring the business community and the schools together in an effort to help students succeed in school and learn about the opportunities available to them as they prepared to enter the work force. CIS is behind such programs as the Pen Pal program that links people in the business community with sixth graders at Tecumseh Middle School as pen pals during the school year.

CIS also has repositioned existing programs or organizations such as Sylvan Learning Center into the community in order to benefit students. Sylvan has come into the middle school to help students determine what types of learners they are in order help them better prepare for classroom tests.

CIS also was behind the forming of the ALLY program that trains high school students to mentor students in the fifth grade. Rolling Readers is another Tecumseh school program that has the CIS stamp on it. Rolling Readers links businesses in the Tecumseh community with elementary school classrooms. Employees rotate going to the class each week to read a story. “It’s a great way for kids to see that the community cares about them and that literacy and reading are important,” said Reeder.

For the Taste event, sixteen local eateries shared everything from soup to pasta to decadent desserts. Many local groups performed in the cafetorium as Taste-goers enjoyed the fare, and a silent auction was held. United Bank and Trust hosted the Savor the Experience that was held at Cambrian Assisted Living on Occidental Highway before the Taste. Evans Street Station catered that event while local wineries and distributors offered various types of wines.

To make a donation to CIS of Tecumseh or to volunteer, call the CIS office at 423.7574.