By Trish Svoboda

This Thursday Pawnee Mental Health is hosting its Driving the Dream Dinner and auction. Chief Executive Officer of Pawnee Mental Health, Robbin Cole said the dinner originated five years ago when it was realized they had a growing need for services that they needed funding for.

The first dinner took place at Midwest Dream Car in Manhattan, which became the inspiration for the title ‘Driving the Dream’. The first couple of years followed a program format with inspirational stories of those who have benefited from their services. Since then, they’ve added an online and live auction.

They’ve outgrown their original venue and are hosting this year’s dinner at the K-State Alumni Center in Manhattan to accommodate around 190 guests. Robbin said she hopes the trend of outgrowing venues continues as development and interest continue over the years, and thanks everyone involved.

Last year they raised over $100,000 from one night of fundraising, and they’re on track to exceed that this year.

The dinner is sold out, but everyone can still take part in the online auction until it closes at 7 p.m. on Friday the 13th at www.pawnee.org