29 Nov Chair-ished Goods Auction a Wonderful Success!
We are grateful for the many sponsors, donors, volunteers–and attendees–who made this fundraiser such a fun time while raising funds to support our work.
Below are some pictures of the event taken by chair artist and volunteer Marci Selig Smoger, followed by a recent letter to the editor from Board Member Ann Fielder, who chaired the Auction Committee.
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Guests–and treasure hunters–listen to auctioneer Kit Martin begin the auction ~~~ the delicious buffet included with admission to the auction
Display of silent auction ~~~ display of artists’ chairs
Artists Petey Mitchell, Gemma Champoli and Cindy Hutcheson speaking about their artist chairs
Artists Joan Peters, Marci Selig Smoger and Jackie Abrams speaking about their artist chairs
Rare, eclectic and fun items for auction!
Editor of the Reformer:
On Saturday, Nov. 3, Brattleboro Area Hospice presented its Chair-ished Goods Auction at the VFW in Brattleboro. A whole room full of people came out to support this fundraiser and bid on a wide range of goods in both the silent and the live auction (which was ably done by Kit Martin).
Adding interest to an auction with many terrific items donated by our league of Hospice friends, the evening featured a creative, artistic event with specially selected refurbished, hand-painted, and otherwise embellished chairs also available for bidding. These chairs were created by local artists Kris McDermet and Lynn Hoeft, Jackie Abrams, Cindy Hutcheson, Petria Mitchell, Dianne Shapiro, Marci Selig Smoger. Joan Peters, Wren Gore, and Gemma Champoli.
Brattleboro Area Hospice is grateful to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for its Platinum sponsorship of The Chair-ished Goods Auction, and to the additional local sponsors for their support. The Gold sponsors were: The Windham Foundation; Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Lynn C. Rust, CPA, PC; Entergy Vermont Yankee; Family Legacy Partners, Inc.; Dartmouth-Hitchcock; Pine Heights at Brattleboro; Greg Moschetti and Connie Baxter. The Silver sponsors included Trust Company of Vermont; Little House Rug Hooking; Tracy Sloan, CPA; Wells Fargo Advisors; Brattleboro Retreat; Members 1st Credit Union; The Richards Group; Southern Vermont Orthopaedic & Sports; Holton Home, Inc.;Brattleboro Subaru; and Edward Jones. Friends were the Palmiter Realty Group and Bast Investment Company.
Without these generous and community-minded organizations, this event would not have been possible, so BAH and the Auction Committee thank them whole-heartedly.
And we cannot forget all the local merchants who donated items and services to the silent auction — their generosity is deeply appreciated. We ask that you support our area merchants who give so much to our community. This holiday season, please shop locally and don’t forget to stop by Experienced Goods where you can find lots of bargains and many hidden treasures.
In addition to the donors, artists and sponsors, I want to thank a hearty committee of volunteers (and their friends and relatives ‘the-evening-of’) who pulled this event together for much of the past half-year. A lot of innovative thinking coupled with hours of time, hard work, and elbow grease helped make this event the success it was. And last, but definitely not least, we all want to thank the many attendees whose generosity made the event the success it was.
All proceeds directly support the hospice care and bereavement services that are provided completely free of charge in our community by Brattleboro Area Hospice. For more information about their services, call 802-257-0775, or check out the website at BrattleboroHospice.org. You can also go to the website in coming weeks to see the list of our many item donors and supporters.
Ann Fielder
Chair and BAH Board Member