‘Denim and Diamonds’ is Back!
Break out your best cowboy boots, the Cerro Coso Community College Foundation is getting ready to celebrate the college’s 50th anniversary with a combination of blue jeans and bling.
The Foundation is bringing back its popular “Denim and Diamonds” fundraiser for the first time since 2018. The gala on April 6 will commemorate both CCCC’s 50th and the return of the Foundation’s signature event. Originally conceived to celebrate the college’s 35th anniversary, “Denim and Diamonds” now returns to commemorate CCCC’s 50 years of serving the community.
As befitting its theme, the event has had a glitzy history.
It all started with then-President Mary Retterer. Retterer had held a similar fundraiser at a previous college and thought the concept might work well here. And it did. The first event was a huge hit, bringing in a reported $50,000 for the Foundation. It didn’t take long for “Denim and Diamonds” to take on a unique local spin.
Retterer and Peter Brown were crowned Queen and King of Diamonds at that first event and early fundraisers featured not only denim but lots of real diamonds.
Jewelry store owner Al Avarado served on the board and was able to lend a little high-end bling on more than one occasion.
“One year we went wild on the diamonds. Women were all dressed in formal gowns and everything, and the guys loved the fact that they could wear blue jeans,” remembered Natalie Dorrell, former director of public relations and institutional advancement.
“Denim and Diamonds” may have started out as a playful way to bridge the gap between casual and formal attire, but the 50th anniversary event is expected to go a little heavier on the glitz.
Events have varied from rustic to regal but look for a very upscale feeling this year, according to Foundation Director Kim Metcalf.
This year’s fundraiser will deliver an evening of fabulous food, dancing and entertainment – with a few surprises mixed in – under the stars at Cerro Coso’s Ridgecrest Campus in our beautiful outdoor terrace.
The event is open to all, with former CCCC instructors and staff especially encouraged to attend.
“I love that its being done during our anniversary because it holds a special meaning. We can invite back past employees and it’s a wonderful opportunity for new staff to meet some of the names that they hear about,” Dorrell said.
The Denim and Diamonds Gala is a signature event for the CCCC Foundation, a non-profit organization which has been a major force in helping students turn their hopes and dreams for a college education into a reality and achieve their potential at Cerro Coso.
Tickets are $150 per person with a portion of the ticket price being tax deductible. Tickets can be purchased here. Seating is limited. VIP tables are available. For more information or to be placed on the reservation list, please contact the Foundation at kimberly.metcalf@cerrocoso.edu or call (760) 384-6145.
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