Date set for annual Phoenix Challenge Foundation fundraising luncheon

Following on the heels of three very successful fundraising luncheons, the Phoenix Challenge Foundation has set the date for its fourth annual luncheon event.

The luncheon will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2006, at the same site as previous luncheons, the Double Tree Hotel (formerly Wyndham Gardens Hotel), 2600 Yorkmont Road, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Industry veteran Dave Harris of J.R. Cole Industries will be the featured speaker. As attendance continues to grow, officials anticipate well over 100 participants this year.

Funds raised through the luncheon will help subsidize the cost of bringing students from all over the US and Canada to North Carolina in March 2007 for the International Phoenix Challenge High School Flexo Competition. With the contest in its 10th year, officials anticipate a record number of approximately 50 competitors. A single team consists of two students, and each school may send up to two teams.

The two first place winners of the competition each receive a $1,000 scholarship applicable toward their college tuition. Second place winners each receive a $500 scholarship. Numerous other awards are given to the students.

The competition consists of platemaking, prepress, press operation, math and written comprehension, which is the Level I certification test from the Foundation of the Flexographic Technical Association.

The largest sources of revenue for the foundation are the annual luncheon, advertising placed in the Phoenix Challenge newspaper (published gratis by the Chattanooga Times Free Press), and sponsors.