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Lead in the Holidays 2009
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Fun, Food and Fundraising
- Published in: Update - Issue 1 - 2010
- Listen to Article
On Saturday, November 21, 2009, we held our 18th annual Lead in the Holidays at the Royal Park in Downtown Rochester. This is the signature fundraising event for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Over 500 guests enjoyed the evening and set the mood for a wonderful holiday season.
Leader Dog would like to thank everyone who generously donated and added to the success of the event! Mark your calendar for next year — the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We are sure you will enjoy the event!
"Maddy" greets "Kaitlyn" with a welcoming sniff.
There were many dogs on hand, both as guides or with Leader Dog instructors, and they seemed to enjoy the evening almost as much as the humans.
Leader Dog Graduate Len Quinn was again our live auctioneer. Assisted by Chief Philanthropy Officer Melissa Weisse and Leader Dog "Ginger," Len kept the auction lively as the bids went higher and higher. This years live auction items included vacations in Fort Lauderdale; Snowmass, Colorado; and Maui. Other items were a hot air balloon ride, several golf packages, and Mach I Racing classes at Michigan International Speedway.
Custom car with Elmo.
Many items brought in more than their estimated value during the silent auction as party-goers got into the spirit of the season. Items included a custom painted pedal car, Detroit sports memorabilia, and spa packages.
With over 20 local restaurants on hand serving their signature dishes, food – including everything from fondue to bananas foster – was abundant and tasted great.
Local restaurants providing flavorful dishes.
To add to the festive mood, we added music to this year's event which was moved from Sunday to Saturday to allow for extra time to dance and mingle.
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