Helping Hands Caring Hearts Gala- A Night in Italy

The Helping Hands Caring Hearts Gala held at the Woodlands Club on Saturday, November 5 was a huge success with hundreds of generous supporters enjoying a Night in Italy.  Festivities began at 6 PM with an auction that included a wonderful array of items.  Conversations were cut short as individuals kept going back to those special items they were bidding on.  As one person shared, I wish I could distract the person I am bidding against, but I know this fundraiser is for a good cause.

Robin Chibroski shared a warm welcome and introduced Emcee Kim Block, WGME News 13 Anchor who has been involved with the House since its inception.  After the Ronald McDonald House story was shown on the video produced by Burgess Advertising and Marketing, Auctioneer, Elizabeth Ross-Holmstrom launched our mission-based Give a Night.  A generous sponsor was the first to raise his bid number to support a family for one month at $300. 

Elizabeth then moved the crowd with a story of a parent up all night with their sick child imagining what it is like for RMH families to be up with their sick children for weeks on end.  For the next fifteen minutes bid cards were raised to give a night, week and month to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.  The evening ended at 11:30 PM with dancing to the Tony Boffa Band.  A terrific time was had by all and people left the event knowing they had reached deep into their hearts to support children and families.

The Helping Hands Caring Hearts Gala would not be possible without the continued support of our community members and sponsors. Families benefit from this generosity every day- children heal faster when families are able to stick together.

Thank you to our Sponsors:

Helping Hands:

• Burgess Advertising & Marketing
• Maine Medical Center
• McDonald's
• Systems Engineering
• TD Bank
• Troiano Waste Services

Caring Hearts:

• Baker Newman & Noyes
• Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
• Hannaford
• Maine Neonatology Associates
• People's United Bank
• Perkins Thompson
• Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution
• Spectrum Medical Group
• UNUM
• Wright Express Corporation

Community Supporters:

• Diversified Communications
• Headlight Audio Visual
  

Raffle:

Anthony's Italian Kitchen

Auction Donors:

• AAA Northern New England
  
• Agren Appliance
  
• Amtrak Downeaster
  
• Anthony's Italian Kitchen
  
• Artascope Studios
  
• Back Country Excursions
  
• BatesMillStore.com
  
• Becky & Don Neidetcher
• Bob's Discount Furniture
  
• Caron & Waltz
  
• Childrens's Museum & Theatre of Maine
  
• Classic Flooring
  
• Cornerstone Chirpractic & Rehabilitation
  
• Cross Jewelers
  
• Cuddledown
  
• DeLorme
  
• Diana Lee
• Edgecomb Potters
  
• Elizabeth Moss Galleries
  
• FairPoint Communications
  
• Forestreet
  
• Garden Hands
• George H.W. Bush
• Harmon's & Barton's
  
• Higgins Beach Inn
  
• James L. Audiffred
• Leslie Girmscheid, MD, NCTMB - Licensed Massage Therapist
• Liz Reed Coaching
  
• Maine Gold & Silver
  
• Maine Hardware
  
• Maine RedClaws
  
• Maine State Music Theatre
  
• Mariner's Compass Quilt Shop
  
• Mrs. & Mr. James L. Audiffred
• Naomi Trowbridge
• Nonantum Resort
  
• Now You're Cooking
  
• Oxford Plains Speedway
  
• Play It Again Sports, Portland, ME
• Portland Pirates
  
• Portland Stage
  
• Purple Orchid Events
  
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• Risbara's Greenhouse, Inc.
  
• Roses to Go
• Saddleback
  
• Sawyer & Company
  
• Scentsy Consultant
  
• Stampin' Up!
  
• Stonewall Kitchen
• Street & Company
  
• Sugarloaf
  
• TD Bank
  
• Terra Cotta Pasta Co., INC
• Thomas Bay Glass Art
• Tim Haley/Haley's Tire and Service Center
  
• Tom's of Maine
  
• Treehouse Toys
  
• Unique Yankee Bed & Breakfast
  
• William Arthur, INC