THE FIRST-EVER Potomac Wildlife Art Show and Auction was held Friday at the Waldorf Jaycees Hall. The night was such a hit, organizers are certain it will continue for years to come.
The Community Foundation of Charles County hosted the event to raise money for the agency’s grant-making fund.
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| Community Foundation Executive Director, Gretchen Heinze with Chris Hardman |
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| Charles County Commissioner President Wayne Cooper with event guests. |
“We’re like a matchmaker for charities, and we align donors with charities. We do lots of other things, too,” Executive Director, Gretchen Heinze told The Bay Net. “Non-profits will have the opportunity to apply for grants and the funds [raised tonight] go back out into the community.”
The event’s wildlife theme was inspired by the Eastern Shore’s Waterfowl Festival, according to Heinze; but, Community Foundation organizers also wanted to include more wildlife aspects than waterfowl.
Guests in formal and semi-formal attire paid $75 a ticket to chat with each other, nosh on hors d’oeuvres and peruse the artwork. The room was elegantly decked out with fabrics and strolling wait-staff. Low lit overhead lights, candles on the tables and accent lighting on the artwork gave the event an elegant but cozy ambiance.
Guests sampled both traditional heavy hors d’oeuvres and unique offerings of wild game such as venison.
A silent auction continued through most of the evening while guests got acquainted with the regional artists in attendance.
Burkey Boggs, Southern Maryland Carousel Project artist and one of the organizers for the event, told The Bay Net that he felt the evening went very well and the Foundation plans to expand it next year.
Find out more about the Community Foundation’s mission and services at www.charlescommunityfoundation.org.
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Heather Bartlett is TheBayNet.com’s Waldorf and Arts Correspondent.
To contact her about this article, Waldorf issues or Arts events comment below or email bartlett@thebaynet.com.