Bonnie Walker, Janine Nebons and Liz Crowther. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The Grand Harbor Golf Club was filled with the spirit of giving during the annual Grand Harbor Community Outreach Evening of Giving.

More than 250 guests enjoyed a champagne and eggnog welcome before dining on heavy hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and a variety of delicious sweets. As the night went on, guests bid on silent-auction items as Maryann Bohlinger entertained the crowd with favorite holiday tunes.

The Outreach Program was born when several Grand Harbor residents became aware that there was a vast chasm in this community between those who have a stable financial income and those who do not. Then, 23 years ago, a group of ladies put together and sold cookbooks as Grand Harbor’s first charity fundraiser, and it has continued to evolve from there.

Guests left with ‘Santa’ sacks filled with chocolate Hershey’s Kisses, representing kisses from the nearly 1,000 recipients who have benefited from the Evening of Giving. This year, almost $80,000 was raised and distributed to 15 local charities for special holiday needs. Funds were disbursed based on the needs of each organization’s clients.

The idea is always to “put a smile on the face of every child, senior, veteran and homeless person during the holiday season,” according to event co-chairs Janine Nebons and Bonnie Walker.

Nebons explained that the nonprofits would use the funds to provide special holiday needs “for those who might not get something extra special this year,” including books, baby formula and diapers.

“We exceeded our goals,” said Nebons, noting excess funds will be added to the grant pool for another distribution in April.

“The evening of giving is a celebration of the generosity of the people of Grand Harbor.

Thanks to their generosity, we were able to make it happen,” said Nebons.

For more information about the Outreach Program, which seeks to address unmet needs in the areas of health, education and human services, visit GHCOP.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis