Besides lending a hand to the needy, there's some pretty attractive frill: Like a five-course-meal, live entertainment and the chance to gulp a 72-year-old bottle of wine.

And all for $35.

"You cannot find a better price for a fundraiser anywhere," guaranteed Bobbi Freeman with Cancer and Community Charities, or 3Cs.

The women's charity organization is pushing up the bar for the ninth annual Fall Festival of Food and Wine, the first of its two major fundraisers each year.

The Oct. 22 event will include live and silent auctions, as well as impressive dinner fare prepared by the major leaguers of area restaurants, including Chef Gene Tillman from the Coeur d'Alene Inn, Chef Tim Heinig from the Coeur d'Alene Resort Floating Green Restaurant and staff from other Hagadone Hospitality restaurants.

As always, the proceeds will go toward the nonprofit's annual distribution of dollars to several charities in Kootenai County.

"In August, we gave out $70,000. We're hoping to make it more next year," Freeman said.

The pressure is on, she added, since this is the organization's 50th year.

"It means a lot," she said.

Heinig, who will be prepping dishes with his son, Cody, said he has participated in the fundraiser every year because he simply believes in the cause of the 3Cs.

"It's a charity for charities, which is brilliant," Heinig said. "You're not committing money to one thing, but entrusting it to people who will distribute it to people in need. And the need is more now than ever."

One of the auction highlights, Freeman said, will be a $2,500-value dinner for 8 provided by The Copa Restaurant in Hayden and Dean Opsal of Southern-Odom Spirits West.

The meal will include a rare bottle of 1939 Tawny Port, from the Opsals' private wine collection.

It's a worthy sacrifice, Dean said.

"This is better than sitting around with some friends and opening it for the heck of it," he said. "This is a lifetime experience."

The event is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Best Western Coeur d'Alene Inn.

Tickets are $35, and will include food and two drinks.

For reservations, call Marcia Saunders at 773-4909.

The event is worth trying at least once, Heinig pointed out.

"We're not just taking $35," he said. "We're giving value for that."