PARLIER – This month the Kings River Conservancy will host its annual fundraiser along the scenic Kings River to support the agency’s conservation efforts along the river’s lower corridor.
Featuring dinner, a silent auction and live music while overlooking the Kings River, the “Moonlight Over the River” fundraiser will take place on Sept. 26 at the home of John and Gail Gray in Parlier, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $100 for nonmembers and $85 for members, which can be purchased on the conservancy’s website. Attendees can also sponsor a table for as little as $500 or as much as $5,000, which would grant the guest logo recognition on the conservancy’s website and a full eight-person table at the dinner, among other perks.
“Hopefully, it will really leave a mark on people, but it’s also going to be a wonderful evening with a beautiful view overlooking the river, and a lot of cool people,” said executive director of Kings River Conservancy Molly Schnur-Salimbene.
This year, the garden party is back with a series of luxury bidding items and special guests expected to share their “real stories of impact,” according to Schnur-Salimbene. The Kings River Conservancy will also introduce brand new board members at the event.
“It’s really a celebration of the river itself, along with all of the different communities it serves,” Schnur-Salimbene said. “Your ticket supports our work on restoration, conservation and education — but it’s also just a fun party for people who like the Kings River to come and connect.”
The Kings River Conservancy is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and encouraging public recreational access to the Lower Kings River corridor, which stretches from the Pine Flat Dam to Highway 99.
Schnur-Salimbene explained that the river system feeds cities across the Central Valley region, including Sanger, Reedley, Kingsburg, Dinuba, Parlier, Orange Cove, Clovis and parts of Fresno. It also irrigates 1.1 million acres of fertile agricultural land.
“Without this river system, none of our smaller cities would be here,” Schnur-Salimbene said. “If we don’t take steps to preserve this for future generations, then I don’t know what those future generations are going to do, it’s invaluable.”
The conservancy encourages the community to get involved in protecting the environment by hosting a series of events, including river cleanups that take place on the third Saturday of every month from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
The nonprofit has held the fundraiser for at least a decade to support its mission. This year, proceeds will go towards operating costs and expanding a number of projects, including the organization’s “Get Outdoors” program.
The initiative teaches families environmental skills like fishing or how to use binoculars along the Kings River while providing free meals and transportation. Additionally, it offers paid internships for high school students
“We’re trying to build the next generation of environmental stewards,” Schnur-Salimbene.
said. “Whether they go into an environmental field or not, at least they’ll have practical knowledge and experience on the river.”
Proceeds will also be invested into the nonprofit’s efforts to maintain free and clean access to public parks it currently manages, which Schnur-Salimbene said would otherwise be closed by the county.
At this year’s event, the silent auction will feature items such as carat diamond stud earrings, a ski weekend getaway to lake tahoe and a wine tasting weekend in Napa, among other prizes.
