Wheeling Heritage’s Show of Hands returns this week with a fresh lineup of local businesses. The community-supported crowd-funding event will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 28 on the third floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center (1400 Main Street). Doors open at 6 p.m., and presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m.
How does Show of Hands work? It’s simple! Attendees pay $5 at the door to receive a ballot. All of the money collected at the door gets awarded to the person who gets the most votes, in addition to funding received from Show of Hands sponsors. Four local entrepreneurs make a four-minute pitch explaining how they would use the money from Show of Hands to start or expand their businesses. After ballots are collected, a committee counts all of the votes and announces the winner.
The last Show of Hands winner was Libbi Gramby, owner of Table 304 in Downtown Wheeling. In June 2022, Libbi and her team took home the top prize and used the funding to invest in new equipment to make her grazing board and coffee shop operations more efficient.
Who will take home the top prize this time? Only YOU can decide. Check out these Show of Hands preview videos below and plan on attending Show of Hands this Wednesday to cast your vote.
Brian Campbell, The Pine Room Podcast
[template_part type="video" title="The Pine Room Podcast" description="What began as a few friends sitting around a firepit under two large pine trees has evolved into a top-tier entertainment venue right here in Wheeling." url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPO5oXualC4"]Carrie Dawson, Morning Light Studio
[template_part type="video" title="Morning Light Studio" description=" Morning Light Studio is a pottery studio that produces unique, one-of-a-kind functional art owned and operated by Carrie Dawson." url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpoTILGEOkw"]Tara Kobasko, The Belgian Waffle Shop
[template_part type="video" title="The Belgian Waffle Shop" description="Tara Kobasko, owner of the Belgian Waffle Shop, has a goal of bringing classic, authentic, high-quality Belgian waffles to Wheeling. " url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iyE_z2ei4g"]Patricia Smith, Shea Rose Soapery
[template_part type="video" title="Shea Rose Soapery" description="Patricia Smith, owner of Shea Rose Soapery, creates handcrafted bath and body products along with aromatherapy items for the home." url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrE2sI_4nlM"]Can’t make it in person? The event will be live streamed online starting at 6:30 p.m. You can also vote from home too! Online votes are $10. Learn more and register here.
Show of Hands has awarded more than $98,000 to support small businesses and projects in Wheeling. In addition to door donations from voting, this program is generously funded by Orrick, the program’s corporate sponsor and our Friends of Show of Hands. Orrick donates $1,000 to each Show of Hands event while The Friends of Show of Hands contribute $250 to each event. Friends of Show of Hands include Dave and Beth Weaver of Wheeling Volkswagen & Subaru, Dr. and Mrs. Dan Joseph of Joseph Orthodontics, Brian Joseph of Touchstone Research Laboratory, Fuzz and Barb LaRue, H Lawrence Jones, Ed.D., Kennen & Kennen Realtors, Warwood Armature, Rabbi Joshua Lief and Rebecca Lief, Sikora Montessori, Will and Tracey Turani, Sklavounakis Law Office, Bridgeway Capital, and anonymous community donors.
