The Breastfeeding Resource Center continued its celebration of 15 years of service to the community with its annual Bash, on September 13th. Thanks to the thoughtful generosity of those that attended and donated online, the event garnered over $45,000 —the largest amount raised in Bash history— to support the BRC and its mission.
This year, the Morris Arboretum set the scene for the event. Private group tours with knowledgeable guides provided Bash guests with an intimate look of the gardens. As they enjoyed heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided by Stateside Urban Vodka and Fireside Walker, attendees mingled and bid on silent auction items including admission packages to local museums, photo shoot sessions, and theater tickets. The live auction portion of the evening’s program featured items such as a Ventnor, NJ, beach house stay; a women’s beach cruiser bike; a private dining experience and chef meet-and-greet at Maize restaurant; and Hall of Fame Club Phillies tickets with a Jake Arieta-autographed ball. Frosted Cake Studio provided a sweet ending with delicious baked goods.
Ann St. Claire, President of the BRC’s Board of Directors, thanked guests for their generosity and inspired the group with her thoughts on the power of human connection; she directly addressed the BRC and its support groups as the means for human connection and emotional wellbeing for so many moms. She stated, “When a mother’s emotional wellbeing is enhanced, she’s able to better serve her family in turn. There is a collective impact of these simple meetings. Thousands of moms and babies have attended our support groups over the past 15 years. I can’t even begin to count the number of stories, tears, laughter, tips, advice, and pointers shared at those meetings. This is the power of human connection.”
This moving speech, as well as client testimonials,encouraged guests to make on-site donations to the BRC, and spurred by a dollar-for-dollar match from Dr. Curt Parnes, Board Treasurer, and his wife, Susan, made this year’s event the most successful in BRC history.
Of the Bash’s support, Executive Director, Colette Acker, shares, “The Bash is the BRC’s largest fundraiser each year. The event provides critical funds for our current programs and operations, and also serves as our annual opportunity to ‘friend-raise’ and cultivate support for the future. The donations we received will enable us to continue offer our services on a sliding payment scale and help guarantee that all moms can afford to receive professional lactation help to ensure a successful and empowering breastfeeding experience.”
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