Family
Fund set to launch Festival of Wreaths
Marblehead Reporter, Thursday, November
10, 2005
According to Marblehead Family Fund volunteers,
the big question around town this holiday
season is likely to be, "Have you bid?"
The group will kick off the first annual
Festival of Wreaths, a town-wide exhibition
and charity silent auction, during Christmas
Walk beginning on Dec. 2. The Festival features
imaginatively decorated wreaths (donated
in part by Osborne Florist) created by local
businesses, schools, government, groups
and individuals.
Wreaths will be exhibited on store fronts
in the downtown, Atlantic Avenue and Pleasant
Street retail neighborhoods where they will
be available for auction. Bidding will start
Dec. 2 and end the following Friday, Dec.
9. The unsuspecting high bidder of the randomly
selected Golden Cod Wreath (they will only
know after they buy it) will win Patriots
tickets and a $75 gift certificate to use
while shopping in Marblehead.
"We are very excited about the Festival
of Wreaths," said Family Fund co-president
Darcy Mayers. "And the enthusiasm we
have received from the community has been
awesome."
Expect wreaths from contributors as varied
as the Marblehead Police Department, Brickhouse,
the Marblehead Reporter, the Swap Shed,
architect Walter Jacob, Katie Reilly/Slow
Please, plus many, many more. The Orne family
will create not one, but two, Bud Orne memorial
wreaths, honoring Bud and his contributions
to Marblehead.
The Family Fund says that wreath decorators
are thinking "outside the circle"
to create wreaths that are truly unique.
"We are anticipating real one-of-a-kind
creations," said co-president Amy Cunningham.
"I can't wait to see them."
The Marblehead Family Fund is a not-for-profit
group of parent volunteers who provide services
promoting the health and well being of children
and families in our community. The Family
Fund is committed to functional public spaces,
outdoor fun and affordable family entertainment
- all of the things that make a great town
greater, according to the group.
Founded in 1998, the Family Fund has raised
in excess of $100,000, rebuilt six community
playgrounds and established the popular
Big Pumpkin Fair, the Family Concert Series,
the Author/Illustrator Series and more.
All proceeds generated from the Festival
of Wreaths will go directly to the Family
Fund's ongoing efforts - an ambitious agenda
that includes sponsorship of the Dollars
for Devereux Campaign (to assist the Park
and Recreation Department's renovation of
facilities at Devereux Beach), TeamUp: The
Speaker Series, Kid Expo, the Afternoon
Indoor Park Program and, someday, the creation
of a Marblehead Teen Center.
A full list of wreath decorators and the
locations where they can be viewed and bid
upon will be published in an upcoming issue
of this newspaper and will also be available
on the group's Web site, www.marbleheadfamilyfund.com.
"We encourage the community to come
out in support of this fun and festive way
to show their pride in Marblehead,"
said Mayers. "Not only will you support
the ongoing efforts of the Marblehead Family
Fund, but you'll also have a chance to own
a real piece of what makes Marblehead so
unique and special. So if someone asks,
'Have you bid?' be sure to answer 'yes'
and join us in this fun new holiday tradition."
For more information, visit www.marbleheadfamilyfund.com
or call Darcy Mayers, 781-639-0347
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