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Chester County Press

Holiday auction raises $45,000 for local youth programs

12/11/2018 11:28AM ● By Richard Gaw
By Richard L. Gaw

Staff Writer

As the holiday season falls upon the southern Chester County community every year, calendars begin to be dotted with annual yuletide traditions.

For the past eight years, however, one party may stand above the others, in what has become a favorite social event of the season: the annual Holiday Auction to benefit the Garage Community & Youth Centers of Kennett Square and West Grove.

On Dec. 8, the 9th annual Holiday auction drew more than 300 guests to the Garage's Kennett Square location, to bid on any one or all of the 80 items entered into the silent auction. Items going to the highest bidder included 7-10-night vacation packages to Antigua, Panama and Saint Lucia; condominium/apartment rentals in Rehoboth and London; and a wide variety of gifts related to fitness, family, sports and events. Guests also enjoyed a bounty of food donated by local restaurants, and beverages supplied by the Harvest Ridge Winery, whose tasting room is located in Toughkenamon.

The Holiday Auction is the Garage's largest fundraiser, and this year, it raised an estimated $45,000, that will be targeted to funding academic and social empowerment to hundreds of young people in both the Kennett and West Grove communities – through tutoring, mentoring, computer lab access, recreation and special programs.

“Tonight means a lot to our broad mission, which is to be able to provide greater programs for the young people we serve,” Jacquelyn Crego, the Garage's development director. “We serve about 480 students a year between our two facilities, and we've seen a huge increase in the number of students who attend our programs. So these funds are needed now, more than ever.

“Not only do these students receive academic assistance, but college and career planning and exploration knowledge, and the opportunity to cultivate great relationships with adults in the community.”

To learn more about the Garage Community & Youth Center, visit www.garageyouthcenter.org.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].