The MSU Museum Chocolate Benefit Party celebrated its 26th year with a new theme, a variety of artifacts and plenty of chocolate.
The chocolate benefit is an event held annually to help raise funds for the MSU Museum. Proceeds from the annual Chocolate Party Benefit fund proper care of the museum’s collections, which ensures preservation and access by future generations.
This year’s theme was “Night at our Museum,” based on the recent movie “Night at the Museum: Legends of the Tomb.” Each chocolate creation related to the theme. The items included dark chocolate Tyrannosaurus Rex skeletons, pyramids covered in fondant and sheet cakes adorned with hieroglyphics, just to name a few.
The chocolate on display isn’t just for looks or taste. There’s a competition portion of the benefit, with categories such as “masterpiece, student masterpiece, chocolate cakes and tortes, other chocolate edibles and best of theme.” This year first place in the masterpiece category went to Cory Barrett for his creation “Discovering the Secrets of the Tomb.” He also won best of theme.
In addition to the multiple chocolate works of art, the museum also had several of its artifacts on display. From tapestries to reptilian bones, it helped show the benefit guests what they were helping preserve and store.
The annual benefit is the biggest fundraiser the MSU Museum puts on, bringing in vital funds for storage and preservation needs.
“This event has been really instrumental to us in acquiring new cabinetry for the museum that we use to store and support a lot of our artifacts,” said Lora Helou, acting director of the MSU Museum. “This has really been the primary way that we’ve been able to enhance and upgrade our collection storage.”