Paul D. Camp Community College is setting the table for the Foundation Board’s third annual Building for the Future Gala.

The gala will be held on March 24 at Regional Workforce Development Center in Franklin, 100 N. College Drive. Guests will enjoy bacon-wrapped steak, crab-stuffed flounder filets and more delicious entrees while bidding on items for the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser.

More than 200 guests helped raise more than $44,000 last year, according to the press release. The proceeds support programs for jobs in fast-growing fields along with the college’s athletic program.

The $75,000 goal this year will help the college expand the athletic program to include a women’s softball team. The fundraising will also fund enhancements for occupational and technical library resources, new classroom technology and improvements to the Franklin Campus.

These projects will support the college’s Quality Enhancement Plan, including the 15 to Finish initiative.

“This is a national concept where we will enroll students in 15, or full-time, credits per semester, so that they can complete educational goals in a timely manner,” Dr. Renee Felts, executive director of the PDCCC Foundation, stated in the press release. “Finishing an associate degree or a credential in two years or less saves students time and money and prepares them for jobs where they can make family-sustaining wages.”

More than 50 silent auction items and 15 live auction items are expected to be up for bidding, and the Foundation Board is hoping to sell more than 200 tickets, Felts said.

“Since the college is not a private institution, the Building for the Future Gala is extremely important,” spokeswoman Wendy Harrison said in an email. “PDCCC relies on fundraisers, grants and other donations in order to continue offering relevant programs to our students, which puts them in better circumstances to obtain jobs with sustainable wages.”

The gala begins at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $75. Call 569-6760 for more information.