HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Hawaiian dancers entertain participants of last year's Hawaiian Luau sponsored by the United Way of Pahrump Valley and held at Terrible's Lakeside. This year, the event will be in Honeysuckle Park beginning at 6 p.m. Aug. 23. HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Dinner includes traditional dishes from the islands and hotdogs for the kids. Advertisement

Once again, the United Way is sponsoring the annual luau fundraiser.

Community participation is expected to exceed 500 people, most of whom purchase dinner and stay for the entertainment.

As is usually the case, the United Way tries to keep the cost low and do not charge for the fun in order to make bringing the whole family an affordable outing.

Entertainment and dinner starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 11 p.m.

There will be hula dancers, and live Hawaiian music by Paressa Wong and her Hawaiian Troupe.

Dinner will include kalua pig, chicken long rice, potato and macaroni salads, steamed rice and haupia for dessert. Hot dogs are on the menu for the kids.

To keep the costs down and make this a true fundraiser, the United Way is soliciting sponsors to help defray the cost of the food and entertainment.

One Hundred percent of the proceeds stay in Pahrump and goes into the special grants fund.

In the past, the United Way has been able to fund two $4,000 grants to Nye County school teachers for special projects, $600 to the Senior Center to help with repair costs of a refrigerator, $500 for Quilts for Cancer to purchase batting to make quilts for children, $1,200 to WestCare to purchase drums for workshops dedicated to troubled children, $2,000 to the Boys and Girls Club for start up, $1,000 to the Pahrump Little League to fund a scholarship program, $500 to the Beatty Little League to buy a shed for their equipment and $1,000 to the Marine Corps League to store toys for the Toys for Tots program.

The Luau is one of the many fundraising events providing help to organizations in the community.

Sponsorships are needed and are available for $300 each.

The sponsorship participants receive a picture of choice displayed on a banner which will be prominently displayed at the gazebo where the food and drinks will be sold.

Local television appearances will help promote the event and the sponsors, and flyers in stores and businesses will list the supporters.

Opportunities for sponsorship are available at $200, $100 and $50 levels as well.

For more information, call Bob Baker, 751-3734.