What a great time I had in this historic city with FAUSA friends making our own history! The 2021 Bringing it Home Getaway and Annual Meeting weekend of FUNdraising was a ‘hybrid’ event with in-person gatherings and virtual attendance at the beautiful art-deco Hotel Netherlander. Touring of this great city and wining/dining at Rick’s spacious home and the private Metropolitan Club, had everyone energized for the Saturday morning Annual Meeting and Gala Dinner. The Saturday night Gala performance by Squeeze Play, Cincinnati’s ‘Big Accordion Band’ with our own Rick Chizmadia on accordion and vocalist, got people up dancing and in the mood to continue the online bidding throughout the evening. Kathy Coughlan was the big Live Auction winner of the FAWCO Commemorative Package which featured three vintage FAWCO ‘Americana’ angels, a copy of The Red Book, Friendship Quilt tea towel and Backing Women umbrella, all in the 2010 FAUSA Tote. And this year’s FAUSA TOTE Full-fillment campaign had six Metro Groups and two Bundles of Books donated by Nan DeLaubadere, earning $1350 with their variety of contributions from members. Thanks to each of you who donated items, virtual experiences or funds toward this historic year!
A brief recap of some of the Philanthropy highlights of the weekend are:
FAUSA Annual Grant winner: Lamp for Haiti, nominated by Liz Hemminger (www.lampforhaiti.org). The $3000 FAUSA grant will ‘assist 150 women with pre-and post-natal care’ in Haiti. FAUSA quilt winner: Karen Castellon, newly re-patriated from Germany! Bringing It Home Fundraising Proceeds: Silent Auction $4465, Virtual Experiences $665, Live Auction $1990; the Quilt Drawing $1880; and Cash Donations of $10,000 for a grand total of $19,000! TOGETHER WE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS!
Thanks to all of you who have supported FAUSA so generously over these past four years of my tenure as Philanthropy Director. I know Susan Frick will be equally successful in this role! Thank you!
Marilee Watts, FAUSA Director of Philanthropy 2019-2021
