Have some fun and make a difference

Valley residents have two stellar opportunities in the next two weekends to enjoy fine food and wine and the company of their friends and neighbors while helping to boost the cause of two worthwhile organizations.

The first takes place Saturday night, when the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau rolls out the red carpet to the community for its biggest fund-raiser of the year - the ExTRAVELganza. An array of wines will be available for sampling alongside some tasty treats. The event also features silent and outcry auctions with a bevy of excellent travel packages and other items up for bid.

In its 15th year, the event is always a crowd pleaser. And the $30 price of admission, along with the proceeds from the auctions, fund the MSCVB's tourism marketing efforts.

That makes the ticket price an investment, since the tourism sector of the local economy has the dynamism to bring back a healthy return on money spent promoting it.

The tourism industry is one of the state's largest employers, generating 40,000 jobs, according to industry statistics, and 13.7 percent of all employment. Statewide, the industry packs a wallop, injecting $1.6 billion into the economy.

Tickets to the event, which is being held at Best Western Lake Lucille, are nearly sold out, but the remaining ones can be purchased by calling the MSCVB at

746-5000.

For those who can't make the Saturday event - or just can't get enough of this sort of fun - the Mat-Su chapter of Habitat for Humanity is hosting a Wine and Cheese Extravaganza March 31 at Settlers Bay Lodge.

The evening's format will feature a tour of a virtual Habitat for Humanity home, where visitors will enjoy a different wine and cheese pairing in each room, along with a host of hot and cold appetizers. It will be an opportunity to learn about the wines and cheeses being served, as well as about Habitat for Humanity.

Since 1976, Habitat has been doing its part &#8220to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action,” according to the organization's Web site. The group has built more than 225,000 houses around the world and provided more than 1 million people with safe, affordable housing.

Tickets to the Habitat for Humanity fund-raiser are $40 per person or $75 per couple in advance, or $50 and $90 at the door. Interested people may call 357-5182 to reserve tickets.