Approximately 300 people attending the Fabulous Feast helped raise a lot of money for kids by doing something simple — enjoying a lot of great food from the area.
The Kiwanis Club of Greater Lawrence held its largest annual fundraiser on March 21, allowing people to sample food from 17 Merrimack Valley establishments. Those attending also had the chance to meet Elizabeth Ruiz of Biggest Loser TV-show fame, bid on about 140 auction items and take a chance at winning a “money tree” pinned with dozens and dozens of lottery tickets.
The club estimates that it cleared as much as $25,000 from the event, which will be used to continue programs for children in Greater Lawrence.
Kiwanis gives away approximately $40,000 each year to children’s charities, scholarships and programs. For instance, it has given $10,000 a year for the past three years to Ironstone Farm on Route 133 in Andover, to allow special needs children to take part in a therapeutic horse-riding program. It has begun a four-year effort to give $5,000 per year to Lawrence General Hospital for its hospitality room in the hospital’s new Pediatric Center.
Kiwanis thanks those involved, including master of ceremonies Bill Burt and the 17 food establishments: DiSH, I Dream of Jeannie Cakes, Samuels at the Andover Inn, Palmers Restaurant & Tavern, Dylan’s Bar & Grill, On the Bone at the Wyndham Andover Hotel, Lanam Club, and Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant, all of Andover; A Haute Dish Catering, Cookie Central and Cakes By Design, all of North Andover; Brown & Budnick Meats of Dracut; The Party Connection and Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods, both of Haverhill; The Irish Cottage, Chefs of the Old World and Not Your Average Joe’s, all of Methuen; and Three Dogz Diner of Lawrence.
