Daily Hampshire Gazette
April 2007

EASTHAMPTON -

In its third annual live and silent auctions on March 30th, Riverside Industries raised $63,000 - exceeding its goal by $13,000.

Riverside Industries, a human service organization, provides work programs and other services for people with disabilities.

Community relations director Char Gentes said she was in "complete awe" after the fundraising event.

"We had really just an incredible party here on Friday night," she said. "We are feeling very heartwarmed and humbled at the success of the auction and thank the community just 100 times."

Gentes said that more than $23,000 in sponsorship, a number that nearly doubled from last year, is what may have made all the difference.

More than 20 restaurants donated food for the event. Drumming performances by the Off Beat Drummers, who performed as approximately 330 guests entered the building as well as before the live auction, helped stir up energy, Gentes said.

Over 200 items were offered at the event and notable bids included $720 for a pair of Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets, $700 for a Cape Cod weekend for two, and $400 for a baseball signed by Sox hall of famer Carl Yastrzemski. A catered dinner for 20 at the home of RSI President Ronald D. Bittel netted $2,000.

RSI plans to purchase a van lift for approximately $5,000, as well as several slings - which help lift a person safely out of a wheelchair - several computers, and several replacement windows.

"We're building, we're really building," Gentes said. "We're hoping to keep the momentum going."

- MATT PILON