Boys & Girls Club welcomes donations for fall auction

Date: 6/22/2010

June 23, 2010.

By Lori Szepelak

Correspondent

CHICOPEE -- The Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee hopes to raise $20,000 this fall during its sixth annual charity auction -- the club's largest fundraiser of the year.

Development Director Cecile Larose noted in an interview with Reminder Publications recently that several gift certificates have already been received as well as some unique items including an official NFL football autographed by Laurence Maroney of the New England Patriots, donated by WWLP-22 News, and tickets to the Springfield Falcons opening night game.

Larose said that donations of all shapes and sizes are welcomed and graciously accepted. She added that decorative baskets are especially needed since they always light up a room. One of the themed baskets already donated is from Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation and includes gift certificates surrounded by ice cream glasses and large spoons.

"It is through sponsorships and donations that the Boys and Girls Club is able to present a well-attended and talked-about event every year," Larose said.

Larose said that patrons enjoy seeing unique items to bid on, for example, hot air balloon rides, a weekend at Cape Cod, or beach-themed baskets, and these types of items are always on her "wish list."

Auction items donated to date include gift certificates from Teddy Bear Pools & Spas, Friendly's, O'Connell Oil Associates, and Uno Chicago Grill; a free buffet at Mohegan Sun; memberships at the Greater Holyoke YMCA; a two-night stay at Bayside Resort; three pictorials of Chicopee; passes to Interskate 91, and computer classes by Whalley Computer Associates.

"We invite individuals, businesses and organizations to create eye-catching items for the auction," she added.

The charity auction is planned Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. in the gymnasium on Meadow Street. Food will be served and a cash bar will be available. The Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation is the presenting sponsor. Other sponsors committed to supporting the auction at press time include Peoples Bank, Avery Dennison, the Polish National Credit Union, and the Women of the Moose 1849.

Sponsorships are still available and inquiries may be made to Larose at 592-6707 or at cecilel@bgcchicopee.org. Persons interested in making a donation are also reminded that items are tax-deductible.

An online auction component is also planned which should be up and running around Sept. 1. Larose said she anticipates closing the bidding on the online auction segment at noon on Oct. 1.

In other club news, Larose noted that through a collaboration with Dave's Truck Repair and Genden Auto Parts, the club was recently presented with a donation of $1,438.50. Larose said that Dave Proulx, owner of Dave's Truck Repair, is "very committed" to supporting the club. Funds come from some of their vendors, from the business itself, and from its employees.

Also, employees of Panera Bread on Memorial Drive recently donated $3,000 to the club. Funds are raised throughout the year by a donation container left on the counter for customers to contribute at the restaurant. At the end of the year, Panera Bread totals all the donations and matches it, according to Larose.

Larose also noted she recently had put out a request for donations "of all types" -- monetary as well as goods.

"The Women of the Moose can through in a big way," Larose said. "They made a collection box at the Moose Family Center and collected various products used on an every day basis here at the club."