In 45th year, Children's Fund aims to raise bonus $45K for the kids

LACONIA — For 45 years, the Greater Lakes Region Children’s Fund has been helping children and families in need. To honor the milestone, organizers are urging the community to partner with them to raise $45,000 on top of their annual goal for the auction, held in December.

The Greater Lakes Region Children’s Fund has gone by several names in its 45 years, but one constant has stood with the initiative: helping local nonprofits to support the needs of children. It all started with the late Warren Bailey broadcasting an auction out of a van in 1981, and has since grown to a fundraiser that last year raised more than $880,000.

Executive Director Jennifer Kelley knows the amount raised each year goes beyond what most people expect, and the number continues to rise every year. She hopes, in Bailey's memory, people will continue to give as they have for more than four decades.

“Being that it is the 45th year, to keep the spirit alive in what Warren started, we felt this would be an exciting initiative,” Kelley said. “Every little bit makes an impact on what we’ve been doing in local communities for kids.”

Last year was a huge one for the Children’s Fund, raising a record total of $883,023, with nearly half — $401,477 — raised through Pub Mania, held at Patrick’s Pub & Eatery in Gilford.

The first year, Bailey raised $2,100 by auctioning off items for charity on a WLNH broadcast. In all, the Children’s Fund has raised more than $10 million, which has gone to about 150 nonprofit agencies focused on children. Kelley said 35,000 children were impacted by grant money this year alone, and the need increases by the year.

“Having a nonprofit grow to this point is just amazing,” Kelley said. “I feel incredibly grateful to be associated with an organization that does so much good, and it continues to grow with such an amazingly generous community.”

Kelley said the entire team is committed to the cause, and it isn’t just an event that takes place in December, but a cause to champion the whole year.

The fourth annual Christmas in July cruise will set sail Thursday, July 9, aboard the M/S Mount Washington, leaving at 6:30 p.m. from Weirs Beach. It will be a night of dinner, dancing, karaoke, a photo booth, and live music from DJ Ghoulay, Katie Dobbins, and the Power Chords. And even with Christmas more than five months away, Ol’ Saint Nick will be on board the Mount bringing the festive cheer.

Kelley said the great thing about the event is that each ticket purchased allows for a child to take a cruise on the lake’s largest vessel in August.

“We have 250 kids registered already, and we’ll have room for more, you just need to contact me,” Kelley said.

The Sweepstakes Social is another fundraiser, taking place on Friday, Sept. 18, also aboard the Mount, but this time docked at Weirs Beach, with food, drinks, and live music. Thousands of dollars in cash prizes are distributed at the event, and all net proceeds go to the Children’s Fund. Kelley said just 300 tickets are sold, and they do sell out, and each $100 ticket includes admission for two people. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information about upcoming events, visit childrensfundnh.org.

“Then, before we know it, we’ll have our collection boxes out for the December auction,” Kelley said.

It really has become a year-long endeavor.

Applications for grant requests need to be submitted by Thursday, Oct. 15, then organization members start reviewing them before funds are distributed. The fund’s distribution committee meets from October through February, and requires hours of reading over applications. Committee members allocate how much each organization receives, and then in March, the funds are distributed to nonprofit organizations at a special event.

Planning among board members and volunteers is constant, After these two summer events, collection boxes start being filled on Nov. 1, and Nov. 27 is the kickoff for early bidding for the auction. The auction has all kinds of prizes, both small and large, including gift certificates to local dining spots, vacations, sporting goods, and toys. People are encouraged to bid high and bid often, all to help the kids.

“What is really incredible about this nonprofit is that it is all done with one part-time employee — me — and 800-plus volunteers,” Kelley said. “It is such a community organization dedicated to improving the lives of families and kids in need. You don’t find many nonprofits like that.”

This year’s auction takes place Tuesday through Friday, Dec. 8-11, at Warren Bailey Studio at Belknap Marketplace, with the annual family night on Wednesday, Dec. 9, in the mall’s corridors, and Pub Mania from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Patrick’s Pub.

While the main event takes place in December, this new initiative in honor of the 45th anniversary is designed to keep fundraising in people’s minds at a time where some need the help more than ever.

“This is the most generous community I’ve ever experienced with financial giving,” Kelley said. “I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’ve been in the nonprofit world for a long time. We couldn’t do this without the community collaboration.”

The Children’s Fund is still accepting sponsorships for the auction, and Kelley is aiming for a complete sellout to help with funding. For more information, call or text Kelley at 603-500-5437, or email Jenn@childrensfundnh.org.

To donate specifically to “$45,000 for 45 Years”, visit givebutter.com/45000-for-year-45-nyoslj.