More than 60 auction items are now live online and the Fleis family polka bands are at the ready for next week’s “Thanks for Giving” virtual fundraiser for the Ed & Irene Fleis Education Fund. The virtual fundraiser event is Wednesday, December 9, starting at 7 pm.

This spring, the Fleis Education Fund will distribute $71,500 in scholarships — $1,100 going to 65 students with Leelanau County lineage.

And the fund itself has deep Leelanau roots: The idea was first kicked around by brothers Ted and Larry Fleis — whose great grandparents settled in Cedar — and who grew up among 12 siblings on a potato farm near Holy Rosary Church. After their mom Irene’s death in 1994, they had a 50-50 raffle and $56 was put into a savings account. (At that time, Ted Fleis says that Ed Sr. wanted to know why it was being called the ‘Irene Fleis Education Fund, “and we had to tell him, ‘Dad, you are still alive.’”)

Ed passed in 2001 and it became the Ed & Irene Fleis Education Fund, now an 501(c)(3) nonprofit. From its 50-50 raffle beginnings, the endowment fund has now distributed $418,000 in scholarships.

Online bidding is open now and will close starting at 8:45pm the night of December 9. Registration and bidding can be completed at the fund’s website, www.fleiseducation.com. 

“The fundraiser program will feature music from four Fleis family bands, student testimonials, recognition of our sponsors and some storytelling,” says Larry Fleis, Fleis Education Foundation treasurer. “For those that know us, everyone should get a few chuckles watching us put on the program.” 

The virtual fundraiser replaces the fund’s annual dinner dance benefit and golf outing which were canceled in August due to COVID-19.

“We’re excited about doing a virtual event for the first time,” says Ted Fleis, president of the Fleis Education Fund Board of Directors. “We also received a pledge from an anonymous donor to match any cash donations that are greater than $100 up to a $15,000 maximum.”

Auction items include a $2,000 Apple vacation voucher; personalized autographed balls from Michigan State’s first-year football coach Mel Tucker and future MSU hall of fame basketball coach Tom Izzo; and a pontoon ride on the Cedar River for six people including beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and music, hosted by Cedar locals Ray and Marge Pleva.

“This fundraiser is critical to continue growing the fund,” Ted Fleis added. “It should be a good night of fun and a great chance to help students with roots in Leelanau County.”

The scholarships are awarded based on need — with no essay requirement — to high school graduates to continue their education at a university or trade school. They can reapply for the scholarship every year it takes to complete the degree. The Cedar Chamber of Commerce and Cedar-Maple City Lions Club alternate years to review the applications and select the winners of the award.

Eligibility does not require residency, only some family lineage connection to past or present residents of Leelanau County. Applications for the scholarship open mid-February 2021. 

Photo: Most of the Fleis siblings, plus a few of their spouses, this past September at the Cedar River Waterway & Park Project celebration.