Alexis Wineman of Cut Bank was recently crowned Miss Montana 2012. There are many rewards for being Miss Montana, but the post comes with a great deal of expense as well. Alexis' platform for her year as Miss Montana is "Normal is just a dryer setting...Living with Autism", she will travel around the state speaking to schools and other groups about living with Autism and she'll need some cash to do that.

Wanda Rude, family friend and huge fan, came up with the idea of a benefit to raise money to help off-set the travel expenses. According to the Pioneer Press

So Wanda starting thinking of fundraiser ideas they could do for Alexis, possible ways in which the community could get involved and help Alexis and the Butterworth-Wineman family cover some of those unforeseen expenses they are encountering.

“My husband Craig’s cousin is Philip Aaberg, the renowned pianist and performer and he has agreed to come to Cut Bank and give a performance. The proceeds from the fundraising performance will go to a fund set up for Alexis to help defray the costs of travel,” said Wanda.

The Philip Aaberg performance is set for Thursday, Aug. 23 in the Cut Bank High School Auditorium. Admission is $10 per person, regardless of age, with tickets being sold at the door the night of the event.

There are four major sponsors for the evening that both the Rude and Butterworth families would like to thank. They are Altamont Oil, Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce, Edward Jones and Montalban Oil and Gas Operations. “We couldn’t do this without their generous support,” said Wanda.

What a wonderful opportunity for the people in and around Cut Bank to enjoy an evening of wonderful music, see Miss Montana perform the talent routine she'll be using for the Miss America pageant in January.

To see all the details, check out the online version of the Pioneer Press

For those that are not able to attend the fundraising evening, but would still like to make a contribution, those monies can be sent to the Cut Bank Area Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 1243, Cut Bank, MT 59427. Please make a notation on your check indicating the money is for the Alexis Wineman Fundraiser

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