Hingham Residents Help Raise Record $100K to Feed the Hungry

Rick Doane, Executive Director of Interfaith Social Services in Quincy is proud to announce that the organization raised in excess of $100,000 at this year’s Feed the Hungry Gala & 65th Anniversary Celebration.

The fundraiser was held at the Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy on Thursday, December 6th as a means to help feed, clothe and support disadvantaged families and individuals throughout the South Shore. “

It is fitting as we celebrate our 65th anniversary that we have the most successful fundraiser in our organization’s history,” Doane said. “This year’s co-chairs, Ally Donnelly (from Hingham), Reporter for NECN, and Greg Wallingford, Financial Consultant, New England Schooner, Inc., and our Honorary Co-Chair, Governor Deval L. Patrick, were instrumental in making this event so successful during this milestone anniversary year.”

“As a reporter for New England Cable News, I see the best and worst of our society. My good friend Greg and I are trying to be a part of the best of it – trying to make a difference in the community where we live and work,” Donnelly said. “We are so thankful for all the local businesses and individuals who donated so generously to this year’s event. Their help, donations and attendance helped to make this such a success. I can’t think of a better way to recognize the important work Interfaith does on a daily basis for the residents of our community.”

During the Gala Paula Lombardo, Chief Administrative Officer of The Lombardo Companies, was honored with Interfaith Social Services’ 2012 Community Hero of the Year award for her generous donations of time, business services and personal resources to help disadvantaged South Shore residents.

Guests enjoyed an evening of interactive raffles, which included a wine raffle, a traditional raffle and a 50/50 raffle, where the lucky winner walked away with $3,600. The evening also featured a silent auction, a live auction, a wine tasting from South Liquor Mart and delectable dessert tastings from various South Shore eateries. The auctioneer for the evening, Salvatore Corio, received some help cheering on the live auction bidding from New England Patriot Cheerleaders Casey and Gina, both local college students.

This year’s live auction featured amazing prizes like JetBlue vacation packages; a Creative Playthings complete play set; an afternoon with Glenn Ordway and Michael Holley of WEEI’s “The Big Show”; an official Celtics team autographed basketball; an afternoon with Billy Costa for a taping of “Lights Camera Action Kitchen”; Boston Celtics courtside seats and club access; a five-course dinner for six at Riva Restaurant; a one-year wine club membership with South Liquor Mart,  where the winner received a 12-bottle case of wine delivered every month for a year; and a seven day trip to the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort in Cabo San Lucas, courtesy of Heather and Peter Karlovitz. This year’s grand prize live auction item was to have Paul Wahlberg as your personal, in-home chef for a dinner party of 10, food and wine included. One very charitable foodie walked away with this item for over $3,000.

“I’d especially like to thank our Presenting Sponsors, Arbella Insurance Foundation and South Liquor Mart, for their incredible generosity,” Doane said. “This year, Arbella’s donation included a Facebook “like” campaign, where the company donated one dollar for every “like” received on their Facebook page. While South Liquor Mart donated all the wine to support the sample tastings as well as all raffle and auction activities. We thank all of our donors, sponsors, volunteers and participants for their generous donations of gifts, money and time which make it possible for hungry South Shore residents to have food on their tables tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who helped us Feed the Hungry this year and to make the holidays a happier time for families in need.”

- Interfaith Social Services