The Community Challenge Establishes the Warren Bailey Community Service Scholarship and Awards $1,000 to Five Lakes Region Seniors
GILFORD—The Community Challenge has established the Warren Bailey Community Service Scholarship and has awarded five Lakes Region graduating seniors each with $1,000 to support their college journey.
The Community Challenge is composed of over 30 teams made up of local businesses, organizations, families and friends who creatively and collectively fundraise for the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction—a nonprofit focused on serving children and families in need.
This scholarship will be an annual award through the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, in the name of Warren Bailey—the founder of the Children’s Auction. The award will be presented to one or more Lakes Region graduating seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to community service.
“Warren Bailey has impacted our community in such a profound way,” said Patrick’s Co-owner Allan Beetle. “Offering this scholarship is a tribute to Warren and how one person’s actions can be the catalyst for something great. We want to encourage and acknowledge our Lakes Region students who are finding their own ways to help others.”
Bailey witnessed firsthand the growing poverty afflicting the community and founded the Children’s Auction to help families through their struggles.
He used his platform as a morning disc jockey for WLNH to spread the word about the Children’s Auction and broadcast the first event from an unheated van, in the chill of December, in 1982. He auctioned off two truckloads of donated items and raised $2,100 for the community.
The Children’s Auction has since grown to an organization supported by over 700 volunteers, is managed by a board of directors and has raised over $8.6 million to fund local nonprofits.
This year’s community minded recipients were Makenzie LaFlamme, Alexia Bassett, Deanna Bourque, Allison Kenyon and Renee Bergeron.
LaFlamme has volunteered as a referee for the Laconia Youth Soccer League, manned the camera at the Children’s Auction and assisted at Laconia DCYF foster care events. She plans to attend Lees McRae College.
Bassett assisted at the Special Olympics for four years, volunteered her time with the Hidden Battles Foundation and at the Peak to Peak race. She will be attending Plymouth State University.
Bourque was involved with both the Urban Food Project and Emmanuel College’s Community Outreach for three consecutive years. She was a contributing member to many clubs at school and will begin her collegiate journey at Emmanuel College.
Kenyon utilized her soccer skills as a volunteer coach for the Gilford Youth Center’s peewee soccer team. She played for the Seacoast United Soccer Club throughout her time in high school and is bringing her talents to Keene State College.
Bergeron was awarded this scholarship because of her consistent community involvement and stellar display of character.
The Community Challenge was created in 2020 when Patrick’s Pub Mania bar stool challenge was thwarted due to the pandemic. The Challenge teams continue to fundraise, and Pub Mania has returned as one of three events created to assist all teams in their fundraising efforts. The Shuffle is held in the spring and fall at Patrick’s, and the Sweepstakes Social is held in September—Sept. 13 this year—on the M/S Mount Washington.
One collective check from all of these efforts is presented to the Children’s Auction in December and accounts for half of the monies raised by the Children’s Auction. All funds are then distributed to local nonprofits serving children and families.
For more information about the 2024 Challenge, the Sweepstakes Social and the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction, visit childrensauction.org.
For more information about Pub Mania or the Shuffle, visit patrickspub.com.
