RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta hosted its fourth annual farm-to-fork dinner Sept. 27 on the Rancho Murieta Country Club lawn, treating guests to a locally sourced feast that raised funds for Turn Around Scholarships benefiting high school seniors who have overcome personal hardships.

Executive Chef KC Brown once again led the kitchen, preparing a four-course dinner highlighted by a mocha-rubbed bistro filet.

“You could cut it with a fork, and it melted in your mouth,” said guest Vernon Wallace. “KC did a great job on everything. The shortcake was also over the top.” His wife, Linda Wallace, added, “We always take something home, but there won’t be any leftovers tonight.”

He also explained why they paid $80 per ticket.

“The primary reason is where the money goes. The meal tops it off, but helping kids with these scholarships is the No. 1 priority.”

Co-chairs Carol Prinzo and Jeannette Edwards started the fundraiser in 2022 after attending a Kiwanis board meeting to pitch new community events. Edwards, who brought the idea from her former club in Campbell, proposed raising money for Turn Around Scholarships. Prinzo suggested combining the idea with a farm-to-fork dinner.

 

Kiwanian Jeannette Edwards, co-chair of the organizing committee, explains how the Turn About program came about.

“That’s how it was born,” Prinzo said.

The cause quickly became personal for Prinzo “because it is for the child who has been left behind,” she explained.

“These are kids who would never qualify for a traditional scholarship, but at some point, they turned it around and graduated with at least a 3.0 GPA.”

In just three years, the Rancho Murieta Kiwanis Club has funded 13 scholarships for Elk Grove Unified seniors, with proceeds from this year’s dinner providing four more awards next May.

The first two dinners were held at Lake Clementia, a beautiful but impractical site, Prinzo said. Moving the event to the country club last year “took such a burden off our shoulders.”

Past President Bill Kenney opened the program at this year’s dinner. He recognized the organizing committee and introduced guests from the Kiwanis regional leadership. He also praised the 22 Key Club teens from chapters in Rancho Murieta and Pleasant Grove and Sheldon High Schools, who served the meal.

“They are here on their Saturday night,” he said. “This is how they raise their funds for their own projects.”

Edwards said the origin for Turn Around Scholarships was at the East San Jose Kiwanis Club. Many members were educators who had seen students overlooked for traditional awards despite improving their lives and grades.  

 

Key Club member Mia Tran delivers the main entrée to her table during the event.

Edwards witnessed the program’s impact. One former recipient “messed up his life with pot” but went on to graduate from San Jose State and open a restaurant; another young woman, once living in a runaway home, became a doctor.

“It just shows what we can do if we give these kids a nudge and some encouragement,” Edwards said.

“The clubs in Folsom and Lincoln have also adopted the program,” Edwards added.

Following the dinner, Edwards and Prinzo submitted the following statement for publication:

“Kiwanis Club of Rancho Murieta would like to thank the community, the Rancho Murieta, Pleasant Grove High School, and Sheldon High School Key Clubs; the Country Club; the RMA Maintenance team led by Danny Taylor; the Farm-to-Fork Dinner Committee; and all the many volunteers who helped make our Turn Around Scholarship fundraiser such a success.

“It was a lovely event in a beautiful setting – a beautiful evening with fabulous food. We so appreciate everything you do to support our efforts to help the kids in our community. Thank you.”

 

Guests linger after enjoying a farm-to-fork feast presented by the Kiwanis Club on the event lawn of the Rancho Murieta Country Club on Sept. 27. The event raised funds to support high school seniors who have overcome adversity but do not qualify for standard scholarships.