PORT TOWNSEND — Nineteen men all dolled up in dresses and heels raised just under $5,000 for Rhododendron Festival scholarships last week.
The second annual “Dude Looks Like a Lady” fundraiser at the Elks Lodge in Port Townsend, 555 Otto St., drew a packed house Saturday, said Melanie Bozak, organizer and mistress of ceremonies, who estimated that 250 people attended.
Once proceeds from tickets and donations are counted, Bozak said, it is estimated that the fundraiser will have raised $4,900.
‘Brought in the money’
“The addition of so many more ‘dudes’ this year, plus the addition of the raffle prizes, really brought in the money for us,” Bozak said.
“The guys and all of our volunteers were simply fantastic and said they had a blast so, hopefully, most of them will return next year,” she said, looking ahead.
The fundraiser’s goal was to raise $5,500 in college money as audience members voted for their favorite models with their donations. The money goes into a fund specifically for Rhododendron Festival royalty, Bozak said.
Queens receive $1,500 scholarships, while princesses are given $1,000 for college.
This year, the royal court was Queen Emma King and Princesses Carley Lundgren and Abigail Green.
The big winner of the evening was Ryan Ramos, who won the “Baby Got Buck$” trophy for collecting the most in donations: $557.
Ramos also won the “Princess of Popularity,” another honor awarded through votes of the audience.
The winners . . .
Committee votes honored Jack Cooley as the “Most Believable Woman,” Stuart Macrae as having performed the “Best Catwalk Strut,” Corey Asbell as “Hot Mess” and Steve Bozak, who was the event’s “Biggest Diva.”
Steve Bozak went “as a queen,” he said. The Bozaks were the senior royalty in this year’s Rhody Festival, which ended May 22, and Steve wore Melanie’s tiara as he danced Saturday.
Donations saved many elements of the Rhody Festival this year, including the float and the carnival.
Among the shortfalls was a total of $7,500 for scholarships — $4,000 for past scholarships and $3,500 for the 2011 royal court, Melanie Bozak said.
Before Saturday’s fundraiser, festival organizers had received some $2,000 in community donations specifically for royalty scholarships, which are promised to those who run for the honor, Melanie Bozak said.
With the money raised from “Dude,” about $600 is left to raise for scholarships, she said.
“I believe two of this year’s royalty are juniors, so there’s time for them to do that,” she added.
Goodwill donated clothing for Saturday’s event. Other major sponsors were Port Townsend Paper Corp., the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, SOS Printing and Fyerlite & Grip.
Some 20 to 25 other businesses donated items for door prizes, Melanie Bozak said.
