Another signature fundraising event in Billings has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The MSU Billings Foundation's annual Wine and Food Festival raises money for scholarships but will not happen this year.
MSUB had to postpone the event in May and Thursday announced it was forced to cancel the rescheduled event in October.
the festival is the largest fundraising campaign of the year and netted $380,000 last year.
The foundation launched a digital campaign to help students Thursday. Supporters can visit giving.msubillings.edu to make a gift of any size to benefit student scholarships. Gifts designated to the Montana Access Scholarship will be matched dollar-for-dollar (up to $125,000), providing 250 students with $1,000 scholarships.
As of Thursday, the reinvented festival has raised over $75,000.
“There are hundreds of people who partner with us each year in support of our students, which is why we take the matter of keeping them safe very seriously,” said Jeanne Moller, who has organized the festival for more than 20 years. “Since many students need our help now, perhaps more than ever, this campaign gives our friends a safe way to unite for MSU Billings this fall.”
Next year, the foundation believes it will host the festival at its usual time in May 2021.
