Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party
It’s a night where generosity takes center stage, where neighbors, friends, and supporters come together not just to give, but to enjoy every moment.
Laughter fills the room. Prizes spark excitement. The whole evening is alive with energy and purpose. This is Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party, a tradition that has brought people together for more than three decades.
Dr. Tom Patrick believed fundraising didn’t have to be boring. He saw it as a chance to bring people together, celebrate community, and make a real impact while having a great time. As a founding board member of the Tucker Community Foundation, he helped create Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party—an elimination style dinner held in Canaan Valley every July 4th weekend. For 11 years, Dr. Patrick served as the charismatic emcee and the event has grown into the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, fueling scholarships, grants, and projects.
What is an elimination dinner?
249 tickets are available for 150 dollars each. Each ticket holder receives one number on the board but is entitled to two dinners, and therefore one guest, at the party. Throughout the night, Uncle Sam will randomly draw a ticket to be placed on the elimination board. That space might hold a cash prize, a special red, white and blue prize, or an outright elimination. The final five tickets remaining all win cash prizes with a grand prize of $5,000! There are also raffle drawings with prizes such as electric bikes, Greenbrier Resort packages, or WVU sports tickets. You never know what you might win!
A 35+ Year Tradition
How to buy a ticket:
Tickets typically go on sale the first week of May. If you know a TCF Board Member, feel free to reach out—they’d be glad to sell you tickets in person! You’re also welcome to stop by the TCF office to purchase tickets directly.
Prefer to buy online? Use the “Donate” button on our website and be sure to include “Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party” and the name(s) of the ticket holder(s) in the memo box.
Reserved tables are available for $200 each and must be arranged through TCF staff. Only 10 tables are available to reserve, and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. One week prior to the event, TCF staff will contact you to collect the names of the 10 individuals seated at your table.
For more information or questions, please contact the Foundation office at 304-478-2930 or email edirector@tuckerfoundationwv.org.