QLLA Charities Wraps Up Another Fundraising Season With Some “Rock ’n’ Roll for the Kids”

The Quechee Club was certainly rockin’ and rollin’ on a Saturday night in July when it hosted the 23rd Annual CHaD Gala, presented by QLLA Charities. More than 120 guests joined in the fun, all to benefit the Ken & Vickie French Child Advocacy and Protection Program (CAPP) at Dartmouth Health Children’s. This year’s theme was “Rock ’n’ Roll for the Kids” and many of the guests had fun interpreting that theme through their choice of dress–with some definite attitude thrown in! There were hippies alongside country music fans, greasers, a few sock hoppers, a flapper, and some hard core hard rockers! “Celebrities” made appearances, too – ”Madonna” stopped by as did “Stevie Nicks” and lots of folks who looked like they just flew in from the London club scene or Haight-Ashbury! Kudos to Madison and Ryan McDuff who took the prize for best-dressed with their very cool Sonny & Cher look!

On the Highland golf course supporting the Classic (L-R): Eric
Bradshaw (chair), Julian Jaworski, Eric Emery, Darren Linder.

An addition to our fundraising totals this year are the proceeds from the first annual QLLA Charities & Quechee Otters Swim-a-Thon. Twenty-six swimmers participated in early July raising nearly $2,700 to be included with the Classic and Gala funds. A presentation was made during the Gala to the new chair of the CAPP program, Dr. Amy Roy. The swim-a-thon was created with the thinking that it would be a great way to include some of the community’s younger families in a fundraising activity while at the same time introducing kids to the idea of philanthropy and giving back. Diane Fokas and Susan Carey, co-chairs of the event, look forward to an even bigger turnout next year as word of how much fun it was is spreading! The Otters are Quechee Club’s swim team.

Funds raised this year by QLLA Charities for the CAPP program, including the CHaD Classic Golf Tournament (held in June) and the CHaD Gala, total more than $117,000 with donations still coming in. Together with Dartmouth Health Children’s and the kids who are served by their state-of-the-art programming and dedicated, compassionate staff, we express our sincere gratitude for the support of the Quechee community. The importance of philanthropy to these programs cannot be understated. When a community such as ours comes together to lend a hand, the sky’s the limit in providing hope to the kids who are our future. Until next year…

Gala volunteers in front of the Wall of Hope (L-R): Cindy Gould (interim chair of the Gala), Shantel Bill, Phyllis
Shankman, Dawn DeStefano, Linda Bradshaw, Gail Ferney, Katie Liptak.