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'Something for everyone' in LEEF Gala auctions

Date: 11/15/2010

Nov. 15, 2010

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor



LONGMEADOW -- A continuing softening of the economy apparently hasn't slowed the stream of donations to the Longmeadow Educational Excellence Foundation's (LEEF) annual silent and live auction Gala, slated this year for Nov. 20 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the Colony Club in downtown Springfield.

"It's actually the same, if not stronger," Gala Co-Chair Carolyn Hefner told Reminder Publications about this year's donation collection. "We've had a lot of local stores who have really stepped up -- [individuals] have given [time at] their second homes, donated hotel and travel points to complete trips -- it's incredible. It's a real community effort."

Hefner said there were so many businesses and individuals to thank for their generosity this year, she was afraid she would miss someone if she started listing names.

She added that, in addition to the generosity of auction donors, sponsorships for the annual fundraising event have also been up this year.

The annual Gala is the main fundraising event for LEEF, which has distributed $755,982 in supplemental educational funds since 2001 and last month awarded 28 grants totaling $74,982 to Longmeadow teachers.

As always, Hefner said the evening would offer gala attendees plenty of opportunities to bid on a variety of specialty items in both live and silent auction formats.

"We have items at every single price range . everywhere from one trip that retails at $8,900 to items that retail at $50," she said.

One live auction item that may hard to put a price on involves being a part of town history.

"We have a really new, exciting item," Hefner said, "We're going to auction off the opportunity to be one of the first to take a sledgehammer to the old Longmeadow High School building."

Other live auction items include a golf trip for four to the Emerald Isle, including four-star accommodations and the opportunity to play on such legendary courses as Ballybunion Old and Casen, Tralee and Kaillarney Killeen. an April trip for four to Hutchinson's Island in Florida, four tickets to a practice round of the Master's tournament in Augusta, Ga., a David Yurman blue topaz bracelet and a backstage tour of Sony Studio's Los Angeles, Calif., "Rules of Engagement" set, complete with accommodations.

Silent auction items range from tickets to Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Yankees games to Maine and Cape Cod getaways, spa treatments, gym memberships and personal training certificates. Also up for bid will be Italian lessons, baskets of specialty wines and spirits, toys, bicycles, museum and symphony passes, a catered Super Bowl party for 20, sports memorabilia, jewelry and much more.

This year's premiere raffle item, donated by Robert Charles Photography, is a photo package which includes a 16- by-24-inch framed or matted wall poster -- shot in a studio or location setting -- and 48 holiday cards, valued at $1,600. Tickets for this item, which are not included in Gala admission, are $10 each.

Tickets to the Nov. 20th Gala, priced at $70 per person, are still available online at www.longmeadowleef.com.



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