By Nisqually Valley News staff
For the 31st time in organization history, Yelm Dollars for Scholars (YDFS) will host its annual dinner and auction event from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at the Lake Lawrence Community Club.
Additionally, Yelm DFS will kick off its annual celebration with a week-long online silent auction. Kidding will open on Friday, March 6, and conclude at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 13. Those interested in bidding are encouraged to register early in order to receive important notifications.
You can register for both events online at https://auctria.events/2026YDFSAuction. Registration for the online silent auction is free, and tickets for the dinner and auction event costs $65 or $450 for a table of eight.
During the annual live auction and dinner event on Saturday, March 14, at the Lake Lawrence Community Club — which can be located at 15735 Topaz Drive SE, Yelm — dinner will be provided by Masonry Cafe. The event will also include a limited bar, music and a live auction. Additional drink tickets will be available for purchase during the event, as well.
“We are excited to be celebrating our 31st year, and are grateful to have the community’s support as we continue our mission to help break down financial barriers to education,” Dan Huttmann, YDFS executive board president, said.
Each year, YDFS’ annual auction raises community-based funds to support the graduating class of Yelm High School pursuing further education and training. This support comes through the form of scholarships — and in the 30-year history of YDFS, it’s distributed over $3.1 million in scholarships. On average, YDFS issues about $150,000 scholarships annually to graduating YHS seniors.
Some of the items included in the online and live auction are: Weyerhaeuser recreational permit; Keystone Masonry fire pit; ride along with Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders; light the tower of Yelm; sports packages for the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners and Seattle Kraken; get aways; gift cards for restaurants and family activities; and much more.
YDFS is a non-profit organization with a mission of “providing financial support via scholarships from community donations and fundraising” to YHS graduates. Each year, scholarship funds are raised through different fundraising events, including the annual auctions, the Taste of the Prairie events, the pumpkin patch at the Crossroads Community Covenant Church and through general donations.
Additionally, YDFS is not associated with Yelm Community Schools, but rather with Scholarship America — a national organization.
It’s important to note that the scholarships issued by YDFS are not only for students set to attend college. YDFS-issued scholarships can be used for any type of further education, including college, trade schools, apprenticeship programs or other educational ventures.
YDFS is always looking to welcome new volunteers into the organization to help with the annual fundraising. You can attend their monthly meetings at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Yelm Prairie Christian Center. Their next meeting is set for Tuesday, March 17.
Any senior graduating from YHS and Yelm Extension School — or homeschooled students within YCS boundaries registered with the district — are eligible for YDFS scholarships. All applicants must submit a completed application and participate in an interview. Any student who completes the process is eligible to receive a scholarship.
Scholarships are not based on financial need, but rather by the total points earned in the process by each individual student.
