From the Harford County Public Library:
After selling out in one day, over 700 supporters gathered on November 7 for the House of Books, the Harford County Public Library Foundation’s 11th Annual Gala: An Evening in the Stacks. The celebration raised over $105,000 to be used for innovative programming at the Harford County Public Library. The evening’s theme centered around the Harford County-based Netflix series House of Cards and included attendees being greeted by “Secret Service Agents” (provided by Absolute Investigative and Security Services) as they stepped inside the Abingdon Library which was transformed into the White House for the evening. Guests could dine in the Rose Garden, dance in the Oval Office or head to the award winning Innovation Lab which was transformed into Wegmans Ribs for the evening.
“Being part of this great event is an honor,” said Mark DiBerardino, President of the Harford County Public Library Foundation. “The Harford County Public Library is such a critical component of this community, providing resources, support, and programs for people young and old. It is great to see everyone come together and support our efforts to continue the programs that the library provides.”
The extensive menu featured delectable delights provided by Laurrapin, Wegmans, Flavor Cupcakery and Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli. Beverages were provided by Jim’s BottleWorks, Coffee Coffee, DuClaw Brewing Company and Laurrapin.
WJZ-TV personality Kristy Breslin served as emcee and auctioneer and Harford County Register of Wills Derek Hopkins helped debut the new live auction package Itchin’ for a Churchville Kitchen, valued at $66,500. Contributors to the kitchen package were Churchville Kitchens, HCT Home Remodeling, New Images Remodeling Services, Classic Granite & Marble, Inc., Appliance Distributors Unlimited, Top Notch Floors, Benfield Electric, Hometown Plumbing Services, Inc., Rooms with a View, LLC, Goode Design and Northeastern Supply.
Other live auction items included a California wine country excursion, a trip to Orlando with tickets to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, dinner for 10 at a historic landmark, a day of pampering with spa treatments and a night on the town in Baltimore, tickets to the top 2016 galas in Harford County and the opportunity to name a street in Bel Air.
In addition, A. Bright Idea Advertising and Public Relations, Arc Northern Chesapeake Region, Bella Amici Salon, TJ and Anita Brightman, Center for the Arts, Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna, Roxanne Harry, Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center, Kingdom Magic Vacations, Laurrapin, Pairings Bistro, Jim and Tamera Rush, Safe Harbors Travel Group, SARC, Saxon’s Diamond Centers, Society of Italian American Businessmen, Southern Harford County Rotary Club, Spa on the Boulevard, Steppingstone Farm Museum, Town of Bel Air, Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation and the Walter and Betty Ward Family Center Y provided diverse offerings for guests to bid on during the live auction.
“We are so grateful for the incredibly generous support from the Harford County community,” said Mary Hastler, CEO of Harford County Public Library. “This year’s gala sold out the day the tickets went on sale, and we raised a record breaking amount. We will be putting the funds to good use, particularly toward our Havre de Grace Building Campaign and throughout our 11 libraries that will make them even better resources for our customers.” In addition to the new Havre de Grace Library, proceeds from the Gala will be used to support the Early Literacy Center in Bel Air, Summer and Winter Reading, STEM programs and resources such as Little Leapers and Little Leapers 3.5, Rolling and Silver Reader and more.
The White House décor was provided by Richardson’s Flowers & Gifts, Revolution Event Design and Production, Keene Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, Select, Grand Events, East Shore Sound and Events By I Did It Myself. Musical entertainment was provided by Mood Swings.
Sponsors for this year’s gala were: Presidential Sponsors: Churchville Kitchens, Harford’s Heart, HCT Home Remodeling, New Images Remodeling Services, Richardson’s Flowers & Gifts, Saxon’s Diamond Centers and Wegmans.
Vice Presidential Sponsors: The Aegis, Appliance Distributors Unlimited, Benfield Electric, Classic Granite & Marble, Inc., Comcast, The Daily Record, Events by I Did It Myself, Hart to Heart Transportation, I95 Business Magazine, Keene Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, The Kelly Group, Laurrapin, M&T Bank, Revolution Event Design and Production, Top Notch Floors, Waste Industries, Web IXI, and 103.7 WXCY.
Speaker of the House: A. Bright Idea, APG Federal Credit Union, Booz Allen Hamilton, City of Havre de Grace, Coffee Coffee, Freedom Federal Credit Union, Harford Mutual Insurance Company, Harford Style Magazine, Huether-McClelland Foundation, Jim’s BottleWorks, Joseph’s Department Store, Manns Woodward Studios, Inc., NVS Salon, PNC Bank, Select Event Rentals, Spa on the Boulevard and Tenax Technologies.
Congressional Sponsors: Absolute Investigative and Security Services, Baker & Taylor, BBVA Compass, Bel Air Friends of HCPL, Brightview Bel Air and Avondell, East Shore Sound, Express Employment Professionals, Flowers by Bauers, Grand Rental Events, Greater Harford Committee, Hometown Plumbing Services, Inc., Jarrettsville Creamery & Deli, Kleins Shop Rite, Lewis Contractors, Library Interiors, McComas Funeral Home, Midwest Tape, Pairings Bistro, Dave and Colleen Patzer, Progressive Radiology, Rooms with A View, LLC, Safe Harbors Travel Group, Jon and Liz Shimaitis, Signs by Tomorrow- Aberdeen, Skylight Creative Ideas, Inc., Stack & Store Self Storage, Streett Hopkins Real Estate, Thompson’s Moving, Inc., Weyrich Cronin & Sorra Chartered, Lou & Linda Wienecke, Al Williamson & Christine Roberts.
Lobbyist Sponsors: Agape Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation, Ameriprise Financial Services, Boyle Buick GMC, Broom’s Bloom Dairy, Debbie’s Mane Concern, LLC, DuClaw Brewing Company, St. John Properties, Elegant Restoration, Ellin & Tucker, Ferrell Fuel Company, Flavor Cupcakery, Forest Hill Health & Rehab, Glyph, Goode Design, Johnathan Grimmel, Harford Bank, Mary & Mark Hastler, Innovative Insurance Solutions, Jarrettsville Federal Savings & Loan, Jones Junction, Kenneally Technology Services, Laurel Bush Family Dentistry, Law Office of Jeffrey L. Michael, Esq., Law Offices of Sean E. Smith, Maryland Spine Institute, MediaWise, Inc., MNS Group, Northeastern Supply, Pat’s Pizzeria-Edgewood, In Honor of Michael Pettitt, Terry and Vicky Powell, Race to the Gate, Rainbow Int’l of Northeastern MD, Recorded Books, SunTrust Private Wealth Management, SURVICE Engineering Group, United Way of Central Maryland, Bob & Kathy Wajer, WAMD 970AM and WSMT Insurance.
The 12th Annual Harford County Public Library will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2016 at the Abingdon Library.
Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The Library serves over 181,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of over 3.8 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.
The Harford County Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization established to raise funds to augment the financial resources of the Harford County Public Library and to promote awareness of its services. For more information call 410-273-5601 x2283.
The companies like HTC and any other that donated labor are really the hero’s everyone needs to thank. There is no monetary or tax benefit these companies benefit from by donating their services. HTC basically wrote a check to the library for $20,000 from their company profits.
That is one awesome donation.