Since 2004, The Salem Education Foundation Dollars for Scholars® Taste of Salem has become a very popular community event each November. Setup in food booths lining the walls of the banquet hall, 15-20 local restaurants, caterers, and other food providers showcase their best menu items to a sold-out crowd of community members. A silent auction with as many as 50 donors entertains participants and brings in funding in addition to the 300+ tickets sold. Sponsorships from several community supporters more than cover the expenses for rentals and miscellaneous supplies.

Based on the overwhelming success of the Taste of Salem in the fall, Salem Education Foundation Dollars for Scholars® introduced its Lion Legacy program in Spring 2010. Our goal is to provide Salem High School students with role models from a variety of careers and demonstrate that Salem grads aren't limited because they attended a small high school in rural Indiana. Additional goals are to publically honor successful SHS graduates, to earn funds from the banquet, and to encourage the establishment of scholarships through our foundation. Lion Legacy day begins at SHS with the honorees addressing the entire student body. For the remainder of the day, the Lion Legacies interact with small groups of students in classrooms related to their careers. Tickets are sold for the banquet that evening featuring speeches by the Lion Legacies and presentation of their awards.