Heart FM’s Handbags for Hospice
Heart FM Release
Their goal was $50,000; they did that and then some!
$59,142 was raised at the 2nd Annual Handbags for Hospice Friday night.
The event, in support of the VON Oxford’s Sakura House, raised about $41,000 last year and organizers were confident they could reach or even surpass their $50,000 goal this year.
The night included a silent and live auction, raffles, games, prizes and of course an evening of socializing, delicious desserts, laughter and fun.
Over 550 women bid on a variety of handbags both new and gently used from a variety of designers including Coach, Nine West, Michael Kors, BCBG Max Azria and Louis Vuitton. The live auction also included a Marie Osmond purse that Donny Osmond autographed during Heart FM’s Donny Day in July 2011.
A big hit at last year’s event returned this year; the Woodstock Firefighters! The men in uniform were there to help out throughout the evening serving drinks, assisting with the auction and even offering their services in the kitchen. As an addition to the live auction for the second year in a row, a three course dinner for eight prepared by the Woodstock Firefighters was auctioned off, bringing in $3000 on its own.
Heart FM’s Dan Henry and Paul Graham of the Woodstock Fire Department entertained the women as the co-masters of ceremonies and auctioneers, and Tracey Kaiman of Eden Bella Boutique and Roberts & Co Ladies Wear provided the fashions for the live auction.
Event Chair Leslie Farrell, along with committee members known as the “Bag Ladies of Oxford” credit the success of the event to the generosity of event sponsors, local businesses, volunteers, attendees and the community as a whole.
VON Oxford’s Sakura House is Oxford County’s only residential hospice. The home provides 24 hour end-of-life care by a team of professionals with assistance from professionally trained volunteers at no cost to the patients and their families. Their specialized palliative care focuses on living fully in comfort and with dignity until the end of life.
