‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’: Nonprofit’s fundraiser in West Deer has Dr. Seuss theme

On the heels of starting a new Armstrong County chapter this summer, Team Friends will hold its annual fundraising event.

And the emphasis is on “fun.”

Organizers selected the Dr. Seuss-inspired theme “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” for the extravaganza, scheduled for 5:15 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10 at Narcisi Winery, 4578 Gibsonia Road, West Deer. Drawing from that motif, here’s a list of what guests can expect:

• “Oh, the Things You’ll Taste!”: Dinner includes house salad, vodka penne pasta, grilled vegetables, roasted redskin potatoes, chicken parmigiana (vegetarian option available) and a cookie table.

• “Oh, the Things You’ll Do!”: Personal wine tasting experiences, silent-auction items and one-of-a-kind raffle baskets.

• “Oh, the Things You’ll Hear!”: Live music is by VZH&M, a Pittsburgh-based acoustic group consisting of John Vento, Bob Zigerelli, Cherylann Hawk and Kevin McCarthy. Vento, a West Deer resident who owns the Steamworks Creative listening room in Hampton, served as emcee for the 2023 Team Friends fundraiser.

Representatives of the nonprofit, which plans activities for adults with intellectual disabilities, will speak about the impact Team Friends is having in three counties. The Armstrong chapter joins Westmoreland, which was established in 2017, and the Allegheny County original.

Susan Cataldi, a 20-year life skills teacher Fox Chapel Area High School, founded Team Friends as a means of continuing to support students after they graduate. Monthly activities with learning and/or community service components can include family members and friends.

As a spring project, for example, Team Friends helped beautify the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy’s community garden at Route 910 and Saxonburg Boulevard in Indiana Township.

Tickets for “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” are $125.

For details, email info@teamfriends.org, call 877-LUV-TEAM or visit www.teamfriends.org.