Bill Chetwynd Memorial Gala & Auction goes virtual!

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield will host their 5th Annual Gala virtually with the help of Wakefield Community Access Television, Wakefield’s highly regarded and award winning local public access channel. The holiday-themed evening with friends, inspiring testimonials, and laugh out loud comedy, will also include an auction and raffles for highly sought after prizes like an XBox Series X, socially distant visits from Santa, and much more. The event and auction can be found at StonehamWakefieldGala.com.

This the year, the Clubs will be honoring Brightview, Life Care Center of Stoneham, Shaw’s, and Stop & Shop for their charitable contributions to our Clubs, our communities, and the essential work they are doing during COVID-19.

“For the past 4 years nearly 450 guests attended the event in person and heard powerful testimonials from current and former members of the Clubs. While they were unable to gather together for this year’s Gala, we were thrilled to help put together a virtual version that celebrates essential workers and the work of the Boys & Girls Club”, said Ryan Boyd, Executive Director of Wakefield Community Access Television.

Jeff Ekberg, Executive Director of Life Care Center of Stoneham reflected; “I’ve been to every Gala since these started. I served on the Board will Bill Chetwynd. This is humbling. To be honored as a company, it really reflects the work of my team at Life Care Center that has gone far beyond the call of duty to serve our residents and the community at large during this pandemic.”

Jill McWilliam, Community Sales Director at Brightview echoed those sentiments. “We do what we can to support our town and local businesses. Wakefield is our home. We want to be able to give back when we can because we care. Especially, during these times when many are in need.”
Joining the assisted living facilities in being honored is the two major grocery stores in Stoneham & Wakefield.

“This honor is one bright spot during a very difficult year. I think it shows that there is a new appreciation for the work grocery stores do. Our employees, most of them local residents, have done an amazing job in very tough circumstances. At the same time, we’ve also become more committed to local charitable work. The Boys & Girls Clubs, the Food Pantry, and any other group in town, has a friend in Shaw’s,” stated Joel Patterson, General Manager of Shaw’s Wakefield.

“We are proud to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield to help make a meaningful impact in our communities,” said Frank Libby, Store Manager, Stoneham Stop & Shop. “Over the years, we have built a strong partnership with many fun, educational and nourishing experiences for local children and families that our store team has truly cherished.”

Sponsors and donors are still welcome at StonehamWakefieldGala.com. At that website you can also buy raffle tickets for items such as an Xbox Series X, bid on incredible items, and even book a visit from Santa. The event is expected to premiere online the weekend of 12/14/2020.

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