Community Corner
At Annual Auction Exchange Club Celebrates 100th Birthday
Raises $10,000 to continue its work preventing child abuse and serving the community.
More than 100 bidders helped the Exchange Club celebrate its 100th birthday by raising $10,000 to fund the club's primary work — the prevention of child abuse, as well as other charitable causes including scholarships for high school seniors, the Farmington Food Pantry, the Boys and Girls’ Scouts, the seniors, and other youth groups.
The annual Exchange Club of Farmington Goods & Services Auction was held Saturday, April 9, at the Farmington Community Center in Unionville. The event celebrated the group's 100 years of service to the community and served as one of its largest fundraisers.
All auctioned items were donated by local businesses and members of the community.
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“When you hold your hand up when I’m up here, you bought it” auctioneer Logan Byrnes warned the sometimes over-eager bidders.
Byrnes, anchor of the Fox 61 Morning News, kept the crowd laughing – and spending. He didn’t hold back on his commentary on the amount of the bids or the items, “come on folks, this is for a week at a condo in Florida. It’s warm, the sun shines, there’s nice sand there!”
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Exchange Club President Joan Morin was right there with him, holding up a box of “sand right from the beach in front of the condo” she insisted.
Morin ran the show at a fast pace, switching the action from live auction to announcing silent and tea cup auction winners.
Eric Wells provided hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. Wine Cellars 4 provided beverages. People’s United Bank provided a 100th anniversary cake in celebration of the National Exchange Club’s 100th Anniversary.
The Farmington High School jazz trio band provided live music, with Brendon Burns on guitar, Robbie Isner on bass, and Alex Forsythe on tenor saxophone. Other FHS volunteers included Haley Makoski, Chantelle Morin, and Collin Morin.
From a deluxe Barbecue grill to a paved patio to hold it; hair product and pasta baskets; UCONN sports events and spa packages, to lunch with Town Manager Kathy Eagan or a tour of the State Capitol; golf packages to dinner certificates there was something for everyone.
It was a great time, for a great cause.
The Exchange Club is always looking for new members. For more information, please visit www.farmingtonexchangeclub.com or contact the club president at president@farmingtonexchangeclub.com.
