Local non-profits - have Scott and Corinne Larson got an opportunity for you!

The Larsons, owners of Newagen Seaside Inn, Lawnmere Inn, True North Events & Catering and the Russell House, are offering their dining rooms as venues for fund-raisers, and their talented chefs and wait staff to boot.

In particular, the Russell House, where dining is a year-round experience, is the focus in the off-season where brunch, lunch, and/or dinner can be scheduled.

"We've had two or three fund-raisers here (Russell House) to date, and we've seen the evidence - it works," said Scott Larson during a recent interview.

The most recent fund-raiser was for New Hope For Women's Boothbay Harbor office on Sunday, January 20. During the brunch, lunch and dinner hours, $500 was raised.

"I am bowled over," said Tina Tucker, of New Hope, upon hearing that the wait staff, Holly Stover and Jen Grover, donated an additional $338.

"This community is consistently supportive of New Hope for Women and we are very appreciative," said Tucker.

The Larsons are pleased to be able to give back something to the community.

The idea is a perfect example of paying it forward while drawing people who have not previously been to the properties in. Scott estimated that 50 percent of the patrons at the New Hope event had never been to the Russell House before.

And for patrons, it's an opportunity to make a contribution to the various non-profits on the peninsula while doing something they would normally do - dine out.

What patrons will be dining on is up to the non-profit - menus designed specifically for an organization or theme menus and/or ethnic foods are excellent opportunities for the chefs' creativity to shine.

The presentation of the menu can be designed to reflect the non-profit. Larson said an example is the upcoming Opera House fund-raiser; meals become Acts I, II and III.

Non-profits are also welcome to use the existing menus at the various locations.

A percentage of no less than 20 percent of the proceeds from the evening, or afternoon and evening, including gift certificate sales, will be donated to the non-profit.

Larson views this as a way for the smaller non-profits such as the food pantry or the ambulance service to raise necessary funding for their work.

How successful a fund-raiser is depends on how much effort the groups invest. For example, non-profits should expect to be responsible for the advertising of the event.

Larson said the New Hope and Boothbay Region Domestic Abuse Prevention Council fund-raiser would be a perfect model.

Promotion, sending emails to contact lists, handouts, posters, accenting the dining room with items that reflect the organization, and having promotional materials on hand about the group are all key.

Groups are welcome to use the Russell House marquee to promote awareness of their upcoming event.

There is, however, a caveat; in-season events cannot be scheduled on a Saturday. He also stressed that all fund-raisers are open to the public and the guests at Newagen and Lawnmere as well as the organization supporters that come out.

Larson said there might be a possibility that when a tented Saturday wedding is scheduled at Newagen, the dining room could be available. And, on nights the inn dining rooms are closed, a group could still book a fund-raising event. The details, specifically those pertaining to Lawnmere and Newagen, are still being worked out.

To ensure the region's non-profits receive "full disclosure" about this new fund-raising opportunity, Larson has scheduled a meeting with non-profit chairs at noon on Wednesday, February 13 at the Russell House, invitations were mailed recently.

The mailing list for the invitations was compiled from a variety of sources. If you represent a local organization and did not receive an invitation, contact Larson at 633-1101, extension 101.

All non-profits are encouraged to send a member of their board to the meeting whether they are or are not on the list.