Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – National radio celebrities Bob and Sheri, along with Lamar, will host a charity social-auction Sept. 12 with proceeds benefiting local students.
According to Lisa Miles, market manager at Citadel Radio in Presque Isle, funds raised will be donated to Central Aroostook United for Student Emergencies, or The CAUSE.
“We all know there are many students who go to school in need of basic supplies, clothing, glasses, hygiene products, and other items that can be provided to help them successfully meet the daily challenges of learning,” said Miles. “While school budgets don’t accommodate these student needs, schools sometimes receive donations and/or have a fund targeted for the purpose of assisting students in need.
“Supporters are teaming up for The CAUSE to raise funds to assist students within the communities of Ashland, Caribou, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Mars Hill, Presque Isle and Washburn,” she said. “Bob and Sheri will be a big draw and the celebrity social-auction will be a ‘must attend’ event.”
The CAUSE will be held Saturday, Sept. 12 at the University of Maine at Presque Isle Campus Center. A social with hors d’oeuvres and beverages will begin at 7 p.m. with a silent and live auction to follow. Sheri Lynch from the Bob & Sheri Show will deliver the keynote address. Tickets are $30 each or $50 per couple. Seating is limited to 250 individuals.
“Bob and Sheri have had listeners from our market e-mailing them for months telling them that they can’t wait to see them again,” said Miles. “While Bob and Sheri will be part of the annual Citadel Women’s Expo earlier that day, people only get a few seconds with them. We thought the social would be fun for a lot of people because they get to mingle with them which offers more personal interaction, plus it raises money for a worthwhile cause.”
Jane Towle, chair of the fund-raising event, was approached by Miles a couple of months ago and asked if she would be willing to help coordinate it.
“Lisa said that Bob and Sheri agreed to host the social-auction and asked if there was a charity that might be in need of sponsorship dollars,” said Towle. “We started to look at Bob and Sheri specifically. Sheri comes from a family that was needy and she tells how her family received Christmas baskets, aid from school and whatnot, so we thought we’d like to target a charity that would speak to her directly since she’s going to be the keynote speaker.
“We came up with the student emergency fund because there is such a great need in Aroostook County,” she said. “There are so many kids who don’t have the very basics to come to school with whether it be coats, hats, socks, hygiene products … you name it, and when they’re missing those very basic things, it interferes with their learning.”
Towle knows of an example where a middle school student was going to present her end-of-the-year project in front of the class, but was reluctant to do so.
“This smart, little girl didn’t want to finish her project. She kept telling her teacher that the project was complete and that she didn’t want to present it,” she said. “As it turns out, the reason she was apprehensive was she had been wearing the same T-shirt day after day and it was very worn and she was afraid somebody could see through it if she stood up in front of the class.
“The teacher took her to a store and bought her a couple of new T-shirts, she gave her presentation, and absolutely wowed the teacher,” said Towle. “The student got a A+ and is going to be in honors classes in high school. That’s a kid who could easily have fallen through the cracks because of something that was greatly affecting her ability to learn.”
Most schools have either a formal or informal student emergencies fund, and each school will receive a portion of the Sept. 12 proceeds.
“How we’re going to determine distribution is two ways – one, we’re going to look at volunteerism,” said Towle. “We’re going to look quite heavily on which communities come on strong with volunteerism and donations and really want to get involved.
“We’re also going to look at student enrollment,” she said. “There are ways to look at need within school districts, so we’ll take that into consideration, as well. We’re going to look at this objectively and based on need, although each school in the identified communities will receive money.”
Organizers need community support in four ways.
“We need people willing to be on a committee. We have five subcommittees which include the auction committee, event committee, financial and recordkeeping committee, sponsorship committee and the Central Aroostook schools committee,” said Towle. “We need help with sponsorship dollars, we need businesses and individuals to donate auction items, and we also need people to buy tickets to the event. It will be a wonderful event, and Bob, Sheri and Lamar will be a big draw. We’re sure it will sell out.
“This is a brand new organized charity, and we hope it will be the first annual one,” she said. “We’re hoping to at least clear $20,000 … if not surpass it.”
There are five sponsorship levels including Principal’s Choice ($1,000 donation), Head of the Class ($500), Teacher’s Pet ($250), Honor Society ($100) and Best Friends (cash donated at any level). Complimentary tickets to the social-auction, advertisements, banner and program listing are associated with the sponsorship levels.
Anyone wishing to help sponsor the event can contact Sharon Campbell at 764-5124 or by e-mailing scampbell@mfx.net.
Miles said she is excited about having Bob and Sheri host the upcoming fund-raiser.
“It’s going to be a really fun, entertaining evening,” she said. “It’s going to raise money for students in need. The money will go directly to a child and it can make a significant impact on that child and allow that child to be available for learning, which can have a long-ranging impact on that child’s life and in the circle of influence on that child. It will have a ripple effect and I think that’s great.
“We encourage people to contribute in any way they can,” said Miles.
