FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Heritage University celebrates 40 Years of Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner and Paddle Raise

TOPPENISH, Wash. — Heritage University is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its signature fundraising event, the Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner and Paddle Raise, a tradition that for four decades has transformed lives by raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for student scholarships and opening doors to educational opportunities.

This year’s milestone celebration will take place Saturday, June 6, 2026, on the Heritage University campus in Toppenish, Wash. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for an evening bringing together alumni, community leaders, donors, supporters, and students to celebrate the impact of scholarship support and invest in student success. As always, a delicious dinner will be created by John Gasparetti and Brad Patterson of Yakima leads the evening, with dinner starting at 5:00 p.m., followed by the evening program at 7:00 p.m.

Guests will hear directly from Heritage students whose lives have been changed through scholarship opportunities. Students will share personal stories highlighting how financial support has helped create opportunities not only for themselves, but also for their families and communities.

David Wise, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Marketing at Heritage University, said the event’s 40-year legacy reflects the community’s long-standing commitment to helping students achieve their educational goals. “For 40 years, Bounty of the Valley has represented the power of a community coming together to invest in students and change lives,” Wise said. “Every scholarship awarded through the generosity of our supporters creates opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, impacting families, strengthening communities, and helping students achieve their dreams. Celebrating this milestone reminds us how meaningful that impact continues to be.”

The 40^th Anniversary of the Bounty of the Valley Scholarship Dinner and Paddle Raise in Toppenish will be livestreamed at 7:00 p.m. at heritage.edu/bounty for those who cannot attend in person but still wish to hear the students’ stories and support student scholarships.

For more information, please contact Davidson Mance, media relations coordinator at 509-969-6084 or mance_d@heritage.edu.