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Local Voices

YMCA's Taste of the South Shore Raises $240,000; brings community together to help send kids to summer camp

The South Shore YMCA hosted its 18th Annual Taste of the South Shore fundraiser on March 27th, bringing together more than 550 supporters to sample dishes from the South Shore’s premiere restaurants, wineries and breweries to benefit the Y’s Annual Campaign. Specifically, the event raises funds and awareness for the Y’s Send a Kid to Camp appeal, which directly supports camperships and financial assistance for local children to attend South Shore YMCA summer camp programs. Through the support of the sponsors, committee, volunteers, attendees and participating restaurants, wineries and breweries, the event surpassed its fundraising goal, raising over $240,000, including $106,000 toward the Y’s Send a Kid to Camp appeal. 

With the support and flexibility of Lombardo’s staff, the ballroom was fully transformed into an indoor camp atmosphere. The event décor, program, and even the restaurant samplings were designed to give guests a true summer camp experience and demonstrate the impact camp has on children.  Guests were treated to an authentic camp fire ceremony and heard testimonials from past campers about their life-changing experience at South Shore YMCA day and overnight camps.

The camper testimonials helped demonstrate to attendees just how great an impact the positive, accepting environment provided at camp can have on a child. Andrew, a former camper of the Y’s Quincy Summer Day Camp, shared his story during the program, “At camp I learned acceptance. At the Quincy day camp, my counselors helped me learn how to express my feelings in a positive way. There is no safer to place to be yourself and learn how to accept who you are without being judged. Camp changed my life.” These moving testimonials helped inspire Taste of the South Shore guests to give generously during the Send a Kid to Camp appeal, helping to raise over $106,00 in the room to give more local children the opportunity to attend camp this summer.

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This year’s volunteer event committee was led be co-chairs Paul Wahlberg and Julie Ellis and supported by Kassandra Berry, Hillary Birch, Chris Bodnar, Linda Curran, Jonathan Dunn, Sarah Lalone, David Lombardo, Kellie MacDonald, John Mannion, Laura and Edwin Rivera, Jaime Sullivan and Ken Wisneski.

Taste of the South Shore 2014 participating restaurants, wineries and breweries included Abby Park, Alma Nove, Atlantica, Bia Bistro, Bin Ends, Blue Hills Brewery, Caffe Tosca, The Chef’s Table, Clown Shoes Brewery, Dalat Restaurant, Fratelli’s Pastry Shop, Fruit Center Marketplace, Fuji 1546, Galley Kitchen & Bar, Good Life Kitchen, The Greenside Grille Restaurant, Hancock’s, Hingham Beer Works, Honey Dew Donuts, Hint Water, Island Creek Oysters, Jake’s Seafood Market and Restaurant, Kama Lounge, Konditor Meister, Lavishly Dunn Catering & Event Planning, Legal Sea Foods, Lombardo’s, Malai Thai, Mayflower Brewing Company, Naukabout Brewery, Newburyport Brewing Company, Orta Restaurant, Plymouth Bay Winery, Scarlet Oak Tavern, South Shore Wine Imports, Stars on Hingham Harbor, The Tinker’s Son, Tosca, Union Fish Seafood & Raw Bar, Whole Foods Market, and Wicked Good Cupcakes.

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The Taste of the South Shore was made possible by Platinum Sponsor Webster Bank; Gold Sponsors Campanelli Companies and South Shore Living; Silver Sponsors: Atlantic Broadband, Honey Dew Donuts, KEEL Vodka, Jim and Pat MacAllen, Quincy Mutual Group, South Shore Bank, and State Street Corporation; Bronze Sponsors: Alex Clark Family, Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, Blue Drop, Burgin Platner Hurley Insurance, Cambridge Savings Bank, Callahan Construction Managers, Carey-Neville Family, Dolbec McGrath & Bennett, Eastern Bank, Hub Refrigeration, and Rockland Trust. The event was also supported by community partners Bosse School of Music, College Hype Sportswear, Productive Media, Black Thumb Studio, Setting the Space, and The Gardener’s Choice.

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