United Way Youth Team’s ‘Taste the Sky’ Sells Out

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 20, 2012
- 5:09 pm

United Way Executive Director Kristy Ortega, left, welcomes United Way Campaign Co-chairs Wendy Schmidt and her husband Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Gene Schmidt to Sunday’s “Taste the Sky” United Way Youth Team fundraiser at the Los Alamos County Airport, 1040 Airport Road. Event organizers anticipated that 200 people would attend but that number sold out so they had to cook another batch of spaghetti to feed the additional people who arrived for dinner. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

A hot air balloon added to the atmosphere on the tarmac Sunday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Members of the United Way Youth Team keep an eye on diners and prepare to collect their plates and serve dessert. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Youth Team member and event producer Justin Dunn draws ticket numbers from a jar and the winners received a free airplane ride above Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, United Way Youth Team mentor Morrie Pongratz, his wife Cheryl Pongratz of the Los Alamos Family Council, County Council candidate Steve Girrens and his wife Los Alamos County Council Chair Sharon Stover are regulars at the annual “Taste the Sky” events. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Each year this bird entertains the crowd. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Violinist Chip Milke of Los Alamos High School performs during the event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Several small planes entertained the crowd throughout the event Sunday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Airport Manager Peter Soderquist. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

United Way Youth Team member Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta and former Los Alamos County Airport Manager and New Mexico Aviation Division Director David Ploeger. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Jill Cook of Los Alamos National Bank and member of the United Way Board chats with guests and Youth Team members during Sunday’s “Taste the Sky” event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com