Key Event fundraiser for Community Foundation slated for Saturday

How to go

LIBERTY TWP.— The Seitz families of Liberty Twp. are throwing dinner parties this weekend, along with dozens of other families, and the invitation to attend still is open.

As part of the 17th annual Key Event on Saturday, Sept. 11, more than 450 people are expected to dine at 28 homes in West Chester in Liberty Twp. to raise close to $100,000 for The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty and the Community Grant Fund.

“You take it real seriously, because if you don’t show people a good time, they probably aren’t going to come back next year,” host Rick Seitz said. “We’ve always had a really good time doing it.”

The event begins at the Savannah Center in West Chester Twp. with a cocktail party and auctions. Guests randomly pick a key to reveal a dining location.

Each home will feature a premier chef from the area, who creates his or her specialty from the provided ingredients.

Hosting requires purchasing beverages, cleaning the house and organizing some logistics, but Julie Seitz said it makes for an entertaining night with good food and good company.

Each host makes the experience unique, and Rick Seitz said “foodies” at his home will appreciate Chef Lori Cole of Savory Melodies explaining each creation. His parents, Judie and Dick Seitz, he said like a laid back party atmosphere, while his brother Chad Seitz and his wife Jennifer like to have a wine tasting with dinner.

Judie Seitz, a Realtor with Comey and Shepherd, said she hosted the event four years ago, and recruited her sons —owners of Artisan Estate Homes — the past three years.

“It’s fun, because I get to meet different people I probably never would have met,” she said. “It’s such a great charity, because it’s not just one facet. They help so many different types of groups.”

Tickets are $100 per person, and Community Foundation spokeswoman Melissa Benedict said this year, new attendees may request to sit with another couple at no extra charge.

“We’re just trying to increase our attendance, broaden our audience and just make it a really fun community event,” she said.

After dinner, she said guests gather at the home of Dick and Patty Alderson.

The evening will include a tribute in recognition of 9/11.