Press Release – Winter Fundraiser February 26th, 2010
What is a Nor’easter? Well, nothing that could negatively affect the turnout of the 7th Annual Phoenixville Community Education Foundation Winter Fundraiser held at RiverCrest Golf Club and Preserve on Friday evening, February 26.
Over 300 angels of goodwill “supporting education in the Phoenixville area” weathered the storm to help launch the party of the year! They checked their hats, coats, scarves, gloves, and snow boots at the door and the bidding began! Against the background music provided compliments of Chris Slawecki and Bruce MacLelland, the hundreds of attendees began bidding on silent auction items under the categories of Dining, Entertainment, Home & Garden, Pamper Yourself and Your Pooch, Phantom Pride, Sports and Fitness, and Specialty Gifts.
The celebrity auctioneers, Robb Frees, Judith Werner, and Co-Chairperson Christine Trafford began the live auction at 9:15 p.m. These good natured hecklers magically withdrew over $30,000 from the wallets of some very generous donors vying for one or more of the super awesome donations.
Chairperson Kelly Connors said, “The money you spend this evening will make a vital impact on our ability to address today’s needs and challenges confronting our children’s education. So please enjoy the fabulous food, mingle with the great people in our midst, and find your favorite auction item and bid it WAY up!”
Among the most sought after live auction merchandise was a Summer Beach House, 20 person party bus, original Colonial Theatre oil painting, Bouncetown Party for 25 kids, YMCA membership, Segway Tour around Philadelphia, a Petrucci’s Season Pass, and many others including sports memorabilia.
The School District principals and teachers helped drive up the price of the Phantom Pride donations: the Class Recess Passes at each of the elementary schools, a middle school ice cream social, story time at the Kindergarten Center, and a high school VIP Graduation Package. They came out onto the dance floor, interacted with our guests in a fun loving way, and amidst smiles and laughter, the parents responded most charitably! Truth be told, the positive atmosphere in the room could have produced nothing less!
The “Giving Tree” that debuted this year was also a big hit. Apple ornaments, each decorated with the mention of a needed item within the schools, were there for the picking. As a result, the text books for the new Forensic’s class at PAHS are now funded; a whole trunk full of LEGO’s for Barkley students accumulated; and a Camp Jumpstart grant was subsidized. Several other wishes came true that night, as well.
The consensus among our guests was “this was the best event ever hosted by PCEF.” The food, camaraderie, generosity, all came together like a…Nor’easter? Not even close.
Board president Joe Little in his opening statements thanked the event sponsors Bala Financial Group, Inc.; Bouncetown, Inc.; Frees Insurance, Inc.; Innovative Dentistry; and Phoenixville Federal Bank and Trust. He recognized the special guests Dr. Lou Beccaria, Mr. Bob New, Representative Paul Drucker, Mayor Leo Scoda, and School Directors Jill Slawecki and Josh Gould. And he praised the attendees, auction item donors, event volunteers, RiverCrest staff, and the “Winter Fundraiser Dream Team Committee!”
Mr. Little closed by referencing the ‘Get to Know Us Better’ flyer that provided a description of several PCEF educational programs in Phoenixville Area School District: Destinations With Direction college tour funded by Mr. Art Taylor, the Robotics Club, and the Pack a Backpack program.
Please stay tuned for televised coverage compliments of Applied Video Technology.
Pictures, compliments of Jean Townsend, a complete list of both silent and live auction items, and other information are all available on the PCEF website at www.pcefonline.com.
THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS EVENT SUCH A SUCCESS. Oh, what a night!
