The Grand Harbor Club was grand indeed and bursting with good will, as 220 members, a limited number as a COVID precaution, gathered recently to share ‘An Evening of Giving,’ a glittering annual event to fund the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program, which this year is supporting 14 local nonprofits.
Guests, festively dressed in the colors of the season, gathered in the grand foyer, where they mixed, mingled and enjoyed pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres set out before the elegant fireplace.
Dominating the room was a big, beautiful Christmas tree, hung with hundreds of red and green paper stars. A second star-covered tree stood glowing at the bottom of the grand curving staircase.
A spirit of gaiety and good cheer filled the air, as friends enjoyed the decorative surroundings and the delectable holiday meal. Seasonal background music was provided by longtime Grand Harbor resident and pianist extraordinaire Maryanne Bohlinger, transformed for the evening into a musical elf, complete with a red-trimmed green top, leggings, pointy cap and elfin slippers.
Kathy Tonkel, GHCOP board president, said the event traditionally kicks off the holiday season for Grand Harbor, and puts people in a giving mood. She added that as the pandemic forced the 2020 event to take place virtually, everyone was especially delighted to see friends they “haven’t seen since last spring,” an observation shared by General Manager Michael Gibson.
Theresa Kelso, chair of the event with co-chair Pam Rogers, explained that the star trees, an annual tradition, represented all 14 of the scrupulously vetted charities. Each nonprofit had an ‘elfin’ volunteer assigned to it, who, after learning about the charities’ various needs, wrote one wish on each star, gathering as many as possible.
Guests could then choose stars representing the items they wished to fund, returning the star with a check. A hallway display of beautiful, descriptive posters provided additional information and supplemental materials about each nonprofit.
Maryann Braden, Celia Montgomery and Jan Harrell were among the 14 dedicated elves, who spent much of the evening beside the star-bedecked trees, familiarizing guests with their assigned charities and the amazing, varied missions they represent: The Source, Camp Haven, Education Foundation, St. Francis Manor, Samaritan Center, Veterans Council, Bike Walk Inc., Hope for Families Center, Senior Resource Association, Voices for Children, Children’s Home Society, Tykes and Teens, Redlands Christian Migrants Association and Transitional Living Program.
Liz Melnick, said of the Outreach Program, that “it all began with cookbooks back around ’04.” And she’s been volunteering ever since.
Other tempting opportunities for giving included a raffle and a silent auction of irresistible and varied items, presented in holiday-adorned table vignettes.
Kelso says that donations will be accepted until Dec. 5, after which volunteers will wrap toys and other non-monetary donations for delivery in plenty of time for Christmas. She added that last year’s virtual event raised some $33,000, the highest total ever.
For more information, visit ghcop.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
