GINN Playground Fundraiser raised over $43,000!!

The GINN Playground Restoration Committee is very happy to report that we raised over $43,000 from the WNC’s Aspen to Antigua Gala to support the restoration of GINN Playground.    This amount in combination with the amount individuals and sponsors have pledged brings the total amount raised to $139,000 (net of expenses).

It was an unbelievable evening and the energy in the room was palpable.  Attendees were treated to wonderful Caribbean inspired food prepared by Green Olive, delicious beer generously donated by InBev,  and were entertained by PanNeubean steel drums.    From the results generated from the silent auction, it seems everyone immediately got into the giving mood and began donating with a purpose.  Once the incredibly engaging Brian Milsaukas, the owner of KidStock and Next Door Theatre, took the stage as auctioneer the crowd could not stop giving.  Brian’s fun, upbeat auction style made the live/speed auction an exciting experience and raised $30,800 for a new GINN Playground.

We would not have been able to achieve this exceptional fundraising milestone without the help of so many neighbors and friends who attended the event and donated tickets and golf outings to the gala.  In addition the many local businesses who donated items for auction were essential to the evening’s success. They include Barton & Gray, Vivienne Butler of Beaucage Salon, Big Joe the Storyteller, Coren Moore, Design Complements Interior Design, Dr. Coakley and Trainor, F1 Racing, Fresh Paint, muralist and painter Holly Johnson, Jiminy Peak, Julie Tempesta, artist Kristen Fitzgerald, Lions Head Antiques, M. Flynn, Massage Envy, Northmark Savings Bank,  Parsons Table, Preschool Social Academy, Van Linsey, Vineyard Vines.

The Sponsors who are helping underwrite the cost of a new GINN Playground have been unbelievably supportive of this community initiative. They include  Bavarian Performance Group, Kids Corner, The ENKA Society, Neighborhood Cooperative Nursery School, Pywell Contracting Services, Book Ends, Waterfield Sothebys, Winchester Cooperative Theatre, and the Andersen Team.

We can’t express enough our gratitude to the residents and businesses who have overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for a new GINN Playground.   We have a number of events planned for the spring and we hope you join us in this community initiative to rebuild Winchester’s only in town playground.   Please visit our website in the next few weeks to learn more about these planned events or join our Facebook group “BeGINN again”.