The crowd of 250 seated under the tent at The Mainstay’s Gala Celebration on Saturday evening laughed appreciatively as director Tom McHugh joked that he maxed out his debit card with the weather deities to ensure a favorable evening.
As McHugh further explained, the organization wished to create an extraordinary event for the June 11, 2011 date, as this was their first major fundraiser in seven years. Patrons were treated to bounteous hors d’oeuvres and an open bar while they perused the wide array of silent auction items: fine art donated by many local artists – including a portrait of Mainstay director McHugh by Evie Baskin, boat cruises on the Sultana, fishing and crab trips, a day of goose hunting, various themed dinners at your house, a musical jazz soiree at the Mainstay, a house concert with jazz vocalist Sue Matthews, homemade quilts, jewelry, clothing, home decor, flowering plants… even a tour of the Crumpton Auction.
Highlights of the live auction, emceed by favorite local auctioneer Bill Blake, were vacation opportunities: a week in St. Barts island in the French West Indies, and a week in the heart of California wine country,
The evening concluded with a jazz concert by Dave Robinson and the Jazz Cardinals.
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