LACONIA — The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction raised nearly $8,000 through its third An Evening of Broadway performance at the Colonial Theatre Laconia in mid-August. The energy for the family-friendly event was incredible with over 400 people attending. 

“The goals of our Broadway fundraiser are threefold,” said Jennifer Kelley, executive director of the Children’s Auction. “We raise money for the nonprofits that support local children and their families in need. We highlight the extraordinary talent in this community, and we create an event that gives children who might not otherwise have the opportunity a chance to experience the arts.”

Nearly 200 children from local nonprofits attended the show at no cost, thanks to donations from the community. Children and families that attended for free included members from the Boys and Girls Club, Central NH Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group, Gilford Got Lunch!, Hands Across the Table, Kingswood Youth Center, Lakes Region Mental Health, Pittsfield Youth Workshop, Step Up Parents, Waypoint Family Resource Center, Laconia, and 603 United.

The show offered Broadway musical performances from local community theater and dance groups, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Broadway North Dance Studio, Franklin Footlight Theatre, Gilford Performing Arts, Interlakes Children’s Theatre, Miss NH, Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative,  NYC Ladies, Stages Dance Academy, The Power Chords, and The Winnipesaukee Playhouse. 

Lynn Dadian from the Goal Tenders group rewrote lyrics from ABBA’s “Money, Money, Money” and performed to encourage people to donate to the auction. 

The event was made possible through the Presenting Sponsor, Franklin Savings Bank. Media partners were The Laconia Daily Sun and Lakes 101.5 FM.

“An Evening of Broadway was such a fun night filled with exceptional talent and a great sense of community,” said Jennifer Prince, marketing and community engagement officer. “It was heartwarming to see so many people come together to support local children and families in need.” Kelley also thanked the show’s production team: directors Matt Demko, Heidi Bourgeois, Jennifer Prince and Paige Thompson; Christy Dunn, who coordinated all the music with Johanna Halperin as backstage manager; and Sean Carroll running audiovisual.

“Everything that we do as an organization is geared toward engaging the community to financially support children and families in need,” Kelley said. “Thank you to all for making this event a success.”

The evening’s emcee was local radio personality Pat Kelly, a loyal supporter of Lakes Region events and organizations, and, in particular, the arts.

Learn more about getting involved in the auction at childrensauction.org/getinvolved or learn more about sponsorship opportunities at childrensauction.org/sponsorship-opportunities.

About the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction:

Numerous fundraising events in the Lakes Region throughout the year support the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, including our four-day signature event every December. In the past four decades we have distributed more than $8.6 million to over 80 nonprofits that serve low-income families and children in the Lakes Region, all through volunteer efforts, community donations and corporate sponsorship. The Auction falls under the umbrella of the Greater Lakes Region Charitable Fund for Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps local community organizations that serve children and families in need. For more information about the Auction, the nonprofits it supports and how you can help, visit ChildrensAuction.org.

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LACONIA — The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction raised nearly $15,000 through its second An Evening of Broadway performance at the Colonial Theatre Laconia on Tuesday, August 15. The family-friendly event was a success with over 500 people attending. 

“The goals of our Broadway fundraiser are threefold,” said Jennifer Kelley, executive director of the Children’s Auction. “We raise money for the nonprofits that support local children and their families in need. We highlight the extraordinary talent in this community, and we create an event that gives children who might not otherwise have the opportunity a chance to experience the arts.”

Nearly 300 children from local nonprofits attended the show at no cost, thanks to donations from the community. Organizations that were able to give tickets to children included Advantage Kids, Belknap House, Boys and Girls Club, Central NH Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group, Circle Program, Cooper Canyon Camp, 4-H Club, Gilford Got Lunch!, Hands Across the Table, Interlakes Day Care, Lakes Region Mental Health, Red Oak School, Twin Rivers Food Pantry, and Waypoint Family Resource Center, Laconia.

The show offered Broadway musical performances from local community theater and dance groups including, Broadway North Dance Studio, Franklin Footlight Theatre, Gilford Performing Arts, Interlakes Children’s Theatre, Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, Stages Dance Academy, Streetcar Company and The Winnipesaukee Playhouse. 

The event was made possible through sponsorships from Franklin Savings Bank and Lakes Region Fences and media sponsors Laconia Daily Sun, Lakes 101.5 FM and 104.9 The Hawk. Steve and Krista Alperin also donated bags of popcorn for children sitting in sponsored seats.

“An Evening of Broadway was such a fun night filled with exceptional talent and a great sense of community,” said Jenn Demers, Franklin Saving Bank marketing and community engagement officer. “It was heartwarming to see so many people come together to support the children of the Lakes Region.”

Kelley also thanks the show’s production team: Jessica Alward, Heidi Bourgeois, Matt Demko, Kelli Powers and Paige Thompson.

“Everything that we do as an organization is geared toward engaging the community to financially support children and families in need,” Kelley said. “Thank you to all for making this event a success.”

Alward said, “Year after year, I continue to be awed by the amazing talent right here in the Lakes Region. So many kids, teens and adults, passionate about the performing arts, find safe spaces to hone their craft because of what the GLRCA does. Those programs would not be possible without the support of the folks who come out for this event. I am so lucky to live here and be a part of this amazing show.”

The evening’s emcee was local radio personality Pat Kelly, a loyal supporter of Lakes Region events and organizations, and, in particular, the arts.

Learn more about getting involved in the auction at childrensauction.com/getinvolved or learn more about sponsorship opportunities at childrensauction.com/sponsorship.

About the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction:

Numerous fundraising events in the Lakes Region throughout the year support the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, including our four-day signature event every December. In the past four decades we have distributed more than $8 million to over 80 nonprofits that serve low-income families and children in the Lakes Region, all through volunteer efforts, community donations and corporate sponsorship. The Auction falls under the umbrella of the Greater Lakes Region Charitable Fund for Children, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps local community organizations that serve children and families in need. For more information about the Auction, the nonprofits it supports and how you can help, visit ChildrensAuction.org. 

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LACONIA — The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction’s first-ever Broadway Fundraiser held at the Colonial Theatre Laconia last week entertained hundreds and raised just over $10,000 for local children and families in need. 

Roughly 400 tickets were sold, and nearly 150 children attended the show at no cost, thanks to generous donors who sponsored seats through local nonprofits. Organizations that had children attend included Belknap House, Boys and Girls Club of Central NH, Central NH Foster & Adoptive Parent Support Group, Got Lunch! Ashland, Got Lunch! Campton Thornton, Hands Across the Table, Mayhew Program, and Tapply Thompson Community Center.

“It was so exciting to collaborate with local community theater groups to create this community fundraising event,” said Jennifer Kelley, the Auction’s executive director. “Our area is robust with talent, and we wanted to showcase them. We were also thrilled to give kids in need the ability to attend the show at no cost with our Sponsor a Seat initiative.” 

The show offered Broadway-themed musical performances by local community theater groups, including Franklin Footlight Theatre, One Light Theatre, Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, and The Streetcar Company, as well as an array of dancers from Broadway North. The event was sponsored by Bank of New Hampshire and MB Tractor & Equipment, along with media sponsors Laconia Daily Sun and Lakes 101.5 FM. Perfect Lines donated bags of popcorn for the kids in the sponsored seats. 

The evening’s performance was produced and directed by Jessica Alward and her creative team, including Scott Alward, Hillary Ayers, Sarah Olsen, and Kelli Powers. Kelley said, “The Auction is grateful for their vision and dedication and the innumerable hours they devoted to making this a memorable performance.”

Alward said, “This wonderful event wouldn’t have been possible without the talent and support of the many community theater groups in the Lakes Region. What a pleasure it was to see them come together to support the Auction with their time and talents. We were delighted with the outcome of this inaugural production and look forward to next year’s event.” 

The evening’s emcee was local radio legend Pat Kelly, a loyal supporter of Lakes Region events and organizations, particularly of the arts. “He has a decades-long association with the Auction, and we were thrilled to have him lead our event,” Kelley said.

The goals of our Broadway Fundraiser were to raise money for the nonprofits that support local children and their families in need; to highlight the extraordinary talent in this community; and to create an event to expose to the arts children who might not otherwise have this opportunity. 

Learn more about the Auction at ChildrensAuction.com 

About the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction:

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction is a charitable event held every December in central New Hampshire. Countless volunteers and donors have turned the Auction and its many fundraising events, including the 2022 Community Challenge, into a major annual campaign. In the 40 years that the community has come together for the Auction, an impressive $7.5 million has been awarded to local nonprofit organizations, all through volunteer efforts, community donations, and corporate sponsorship. The Greater Lakes Region Charitable Fund for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps community organizations in the Central New Hampshire region. For more information about the Auction, the nonprofits it supports, and how you can help, visit ChildrensAuction.com.

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