Upcoming events in support of nonproft groups
NOV. 19 (TODAY) Boise Holiday Parade 9:45 a.m. Bring food and toy donations to the parade in Downtown Boise to help the Salvation Army’s Food & Toy Collection drive.
The Society of Mayflower Descendants in Idaho Thanksgiving Luncheon at noon, Eagle Senior Center, $5; luncheon, live and silent auction; proceeds go to education fund; everyone welcome; 371-4397
Bogus Basin Ski Club 48th Annual Warren Miller Film Festival 4:30 and 7:30 p.m., Egyptian Theatre, $13/matinee, $15/ evening, plus fees; "Like There’s No Tomorrow" film; proceeds benefit several charities, including Scholar Dollar ski school for kids and Recreation Unlimited Program for handicapped learners. 344-9179, www.egyptiantheatre.net
The Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Show 7 p.m., Bronco Gym (next to Taco Bell arena), $7/students & seniors, $10/adults, under 4 free, tickets at the door; benefits the American Red Cross www.redcrossidaho.org
NOV. 19 AND 20 Syringa Middle School Christmas Bazaar 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; Syringa Middle School, 1100 Willow St., Caldwell
BEGINS NOV. 25 Boise Vista Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale Boise Hawks Stadium, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends, 4-8 p.m. weekdays; benefits eyesight and hearing programs; 867-4575 or 884-1371
THROUGH NOV. 30 Idaho Regional Ballet Online Auction Benefits education program, 338-4633 www.epacdance.com
Centennial High School Baseball Team Sunkist Orange and Grapefruit Sale 20-pound boxes of Sunkist oranges and Rio Star Grapefruit for $24; delivered Dec. 9; contact Coach Dalton, 855-4250 ext. 1113
THROUGH DEC. 15 Stor-N-Lock Self Storage Toys for Tots Holiday Collection Drive Drop off toys at any Stor-n-Lock location; sponsored by U.S. Marine Corps.www.stor-n-lock.com
THROUGH DEC. 19 Salvation Army Angel Tree Host an Angel Tree at your work, church or school to collect new, unwrapped toys for the needy children of Ada County. Salvation Army provides the Angel Tags that list suggested age-appropriate gift items. 794-1745.
THROUGH DEC. 24 Eagle First Friday Coats for Kids Winter coat collection at nine Eagle businesses to benefit Idaho Youth Ranch Coats for Kids; collection drop-off points at Fusions Glass Studio, Second Avenue Consignment, Gaia Studios & Gallery, The Storytellers, Eagle Acupuncture, The Grey Fox Gallery, Wild West Bakery & Espresso, Villa Decor and Club; 631-9565 www.facebook.com/firstfridayeagle
ALSO THROUGH DEC. 24 3rd annual Einstein’s Oilery Food and Fundraising Drive $10 off full-service oil change with four non-perishable food items for The Idaho Foodbank; monetary donations matched dollar for dollar; drop-off donations accepted at any Treasure Valley location.
MONDAY, NOV. 21 Special Olympics Idaho Dine For A Cause 5-9 p.m., Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery, 20 percent of dining proceeds benefit Special Olympics Idaho. 724-1896, www.idso.org
FRIDAY, NOV. 25 Idaho Foodbank 14th annual Empty Bowls 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Grove Plaza; bowls start at $10; choose from variety of custom-made bowls. Gourmet soup from Boise's best restaurants; musical soundtrack will feature Idaho Ho Ho Volume 2 CD. 577-2698, www.idahofoodbank.org/?page=empty-bowls
16th Annual District III High School El Korah East-West Shrine All-Star Football Games 11 a.m. 8-man game, 2 p.m. 11-man game; Eagle High School; benefits Shriners Hospital for Children and the Patient Transportation Fund. Tickets: 286-4157, www.elkorah.org
DEC. 1-DEC. 10 The Basement Gallery Ornament Auction for Life’s Kitchen Basement Gallery, 928 W. Main St., Boise; silent auction of ornaments made by local artists; proceeds benefit Life’s Kitchen; 761-6168
SATURDAY, DEC. 3 Zoo Boise Claus 'n Paws 10 a.m.-5 p.m. free admission. Musical entertainment. $3 picture with Santa (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). 384-4260, www.zooboise.org
Soroptimist International of Garden City 17th Annual Children's Holiday Party Boys & Girls Club of Ada County, 610 E. 42nd St., Garden City; free; crafts, music face-painting, karaoke, games and refreshments 376-4960, www.gardencitysoroptimist.org
Salvation Army Stuff The Bus 10 a.m.-7 p.m., all Fred Meyer stores in Treasure Valley; help stuff the bus with toys for kids in need.
TUESDAY, DEC. 6 United Heritage Insurance Mayor’s Cup 7 p.m., Johnson Sports Center, Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa; $2 person, $10 family; the Yotes versus the Crusaders with ticket sales benefiting YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign to provide YMCA financial assistance and program subsidies. Tickets: email shiloah.wilson@ymcatvidaho.org, website: www.ymcatvidaho.org/news-events/events/united-heritage-mayors-cup-december
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 7 NAMI-Boise Annual Silent Auction and Post-Walk Party 6 p.m., DoubleTree Riverside, free. RSVP at 376-4304; silent auction; proceeds benefit local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. www.nami-boise.org (under calendar).
THURSDAY, DEC. 8 Idaho Humanities Council 15th annual Distinguished Humanities Lecture and Dinner 7 p.m., Boise Centre, $55, $125 benefactors (includes private pre-dinner reception with author and premiere seating); dinner and lecture, featuring author/reporter Calvin Trillin; event rescheduled from October. Tickets available at 345-5346 or www.idahohumanities.org
SATURDAY, DEC. 10 KTVB “7 Cares” Day 8 a.m.-noon; drop off donations (money, toys or food) to KTVB Channel 7 to benefit The Salvation Army, Idaho Foodbank and the Boise Rescue Mission; volunteers welcome, call Tina at 433-4428
FRIDAY, DEC. 16 Special Olympics 10th annual Holiday Jazz For Peace Concert 6:30 p.m., Sun Valley Inn, Sun Valley, $75 includes complimentary wine, beer and food; silent auction; featuring pianist/vocalist Rick DellaRatta; 208-724-8426, www.idso.org
SATURDAY, DEC. 17 Boise Rescue Mission Christmas Banquet in Boise 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Garden City Boys & Girls Club; food boxes and toys also distributed; donations accepted at warehouse location, 308 S. 24th St., Boise; to sign up, call 338-5433 or 639-3297, www.boiserescuemission.org
Salvation Army Celebrity Bell Ringing Day 9 a.m.-7 p.m., local celebrities ring the bells at Boise Towne Square
24th annual YMCA Christmas Run 10 a.m., 10th and Washington streets, Downtown Boise, $30/adults, $25/adult team members, $20/17 and under, $15/team members, teams consist of 10 or more people; two races, 2.5 miles and 6.1 miles; awards include best Christmas costume; Santa will be at the race start. Register online at ymcatvidaho.org (search for Christmas run), at any Treasure Valley YMCA or by mailing in form. 344-5501.
SUNDAY & MONDAY, DEC. 18 & 19 6th annual Xtreme Holiday Xtravaganza with Curtis Stigers 7:30 p.m.,Egyptian Theatre, benefits Interfaith Sanctuary. Tickets $25 beginning Nov. 21 at www.curtisstigers.com
MONDAY, DEC. 19 Wish Granters Charity Night at Bardenay 5 p.m., Bardenay, 20 percent of proceeds go to Wish Granters. 377-9029, www.wishgranters.org
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21 Boise Rescue Mission Christmas Banquet in Nampa 11 a.m.-7 p.m., First Church of the Nazarene, Nampa; food boxes and toys also distributed; donations accepted at warehouse location, 308 S. 24th St., Boise. To sign up, call 338-5433 or 639-3297, www.boiserescuemission.org
SUNDAY, JAN. 1 The Make-A-Wish Great Polar Bear Challenge 10:30 a.m., Spring Shores Marina at Lucky Peak Reservoir; donations, $50/minimum receives T-shirt, participants who raise the most money qualify for prizes; heated changing tents, coffee, hot chocolate and pastries. 345-9474, www.idaho.wish.org
SATURDAY, JAN. 7 4th annual $10,000 Treasure Valley Weight Loss Challenge Kick-Off 8 a.m. to 1 pm. registration at St. Luke's Humphreys Diabetes Center, $50; weight-loss program with cash awards for top three men and women with biggest percentage weight loss; $3,000/1st place, $1,500/2nd place, $500/3rd place; nutrition and exercise tips weekly, motivation meetings monthly; final weigh-in is June 7; proceeds benefit St. Luke’s Humphreys Diabetes Center. 331-1155 ext. 32 or www.hdiabetescenter.com/weightloss. Registration continues through Jan. 22; get details online.
SUNDAY, JAN. 8 SNIP Black Dog Walk Noon on the second Sunday of every month, The Ram east parking lot; free; raffle, dog events, brings attention to black dog syndrome for Spay Neuter Idaho Pets, Inc., 968-1338, snipidaho.org. You can also support SNIP by wrapping something red around your neck and walking behind the SNIP float at the Nov. 19 holiday parade.
SATURDAY, JAN. 21 ArtsWest's 'Jazz Til You Drop' Noon-3 p.m., Blue Door Café, 3300 W. State St., Eagle; free, donations accepted; 10-hour jazz-a-thon fundraiser for ArtsWest, a visual and performing arts academy in Eagle; includes special guests. 938-5410, www.artswestschool.org
SATURDAY, JAN. 28 Opera Idaho Mardi Gras! Un Affaire Parisienne 6 p.m., Arid Club, $150/person, $1,500/table of 10; dinner, drinks, dancing, live auction, Parisienne costumes (masques encouraged); call to reserve, 345-3531 ext. 2, www.operaidaho.org
St. Paul’s School Gala 5 p.m., Nampa Civic Center, $50/person, $45/before Jan. 1, dinner and auction, 467-3601
FEB. 2-FEB. 12 Flying M’s 18th Annual Valentines for AIDS Flying M Coffeehouse, 500 W. Idaho St.; annual silent art auction of more than 300 valentines by local artists; benefits SNAP (Safety Net for Aids Program) 367-7033 www.valentineforaids.com
FRIDAY, FEB. 3 18th annual Learning Lab Lunch for Literacy 11 a.m./silent auction, noon-12:30 p.m./lunch, program; Boise Centre; $50, corporate sponsorships available; lunch, silent auction of autographed books and book-themed baskets; Learning Lab student presentation; guest author is Jess Walter, National Book Award finalist and winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award; author of five novels and one nonfiction book. Tickets online or call 344-1335 ext. 101, www.learninglabinc.org
Discovery Center of Idaho Chocolate & Diamonds Gala 6:30 p.m., Discovery Center of Idaho, $75, $1,000/tables of 10; buy diamond raffle tickets for six boxes of chocolate, one with a diamond surprise; live and silent auctions; chocolate creations by Boise chefs to crown Boise's Best Chocolatier of 2012 (creations are then auctioned and are often donated to local organizations); lots of sampling; chocolate, champagne and diamonds, "blingtastic for enthusiasts of all things sparkley.” Also music, food, wine and beer; 287-4231, www.scidaho.org
SATURDAY, FEB. 4 Idaho Regional Ballet 7th annual Father/Daughter Winter Ball Eagle Performing Arts Center, tickets available Jan. 4; dancing, photos and a dessert buffet with chocolate fountain; 338-4633, www.epacdance.com
FRIDAY, FEB. 10 Northwest Children's Home 6th annual Afternoon Tea with the Syringa Girls 4 p.m., Courtyard by Marriott, Meridian; call Julene Reed for information, 465-9936, www.northwestchildrenshome.org
Saint Alphonsus Foundation 8th annual Laugh, Learn & Lunch 11:30 a.m., McCleary Auditorium, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, $35; lunch, silent auction, raffle, door prizes, guest speaker; 367-3997, www.saintalphonsus.org/foundation
SATURDAY, FEB. 11 The Magic of St. Joe's — 47th annual Crab Feed & Auction Mardi Gras theme. 5:30 p.m. at Micron (8000 S. Federal Way, Boise), $75; benefits St. Joseph’s Catholic School. For tickets, call 342-4909. www.stjoes.com
TUESDAY, FEB. 14 GFWC Boise Columbian Club 120th Anniversary Celebration 4 to 6 p.m., Boise Depot, $20; celebrates 12 decades of women making a difference in the community, including college scholarships and support of local non-profit groups and other programs of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs; 336-3091
FRIDAY, FEB. 17 ArtsWest Classical Chamber Concert & Fundraiser 938-0978, www.artswestschool.org
SATURDAY, FEB. 18 (NEW DATE) Meridian Firefighters Pipe and Drums 3rd annual Chili Cook-off 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 888-1234, www.meridiancity.org
SATURDAY, FEB. 25 Saint Alphonsus Foundation 7th annual Inside Ride Boise Towne Square Center Court, $25/rider, $100/team, race for prizes with divisions for both elite and recreational cyclists; bone density and blood pressure screenings available, as well as oxygen saturation testing; presented by Saint Alphonsus Heart & Vascular Center. 367-3760; www.saintalphonsus.org/foundation.
American Heart Association Treasure Valley Heart Ball 6 p.m., Boise Centre; dinner, dancing, live & silent auction; help fund the 2020 impact goal of the American Heart Association to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent. Call 384-5066 for ticket information. www.heart.org
SATURDAY, MARCH 3 Idaho Dance Theatre 4th annual “Dancing Through the Decades” Gala 5:30 p.m., Esther Simplot Ballroom in the BSU Student Union, $100, $2,000/corporate sponsorships; buffet dinner, dessert, silent and live auction, celebrity dance competition, live music by the Paul Tillotson Trio; this year’s theme is the 1940s and that means some swingin’ jazz; 331-9592, www.idahodancetheatre.org
Children's Home Society of Idaho Culinary World Tour 6 p.m., Boise Centre, Polynesian theme with dinner, various entertainment, live/silent/reverse auctions. Program features Ada County Sheriff Gary Raney and Linda Peterson, mother of Jeret “Speedy” Peterson. Benefits the Home Society’s Community Sponsorship Program for early intervention/treatment. 343-7813, www.childrenshomesociety.com
