July 26, 2024| Community, Events, Fundraising, People
By: Caitlin Doran and Kari Constantine
Stone Water was the place to be on Thursday, July 18, when our community came together to enjoy a beautiful evening to celebrate and support our lake at our annual Gala and Auction. And for those who couldn’t join us, there was still fun to be had, bidding in our lake-famous auction of sixty items and experiences, like beekeeping demos, exclusive golf packages, chartered boat rides, and more!
All told, through the generosity of sponsors, attendees, bidders, donors, and those who purchased either a Split the Pot or Lucky Life Vest raffle ticket (or both!), we were able to raise over $100,000 to support programs and initiatives that protect and improve our lake and community! We thank you all!
Our annual gala and auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year and happens thanks to the careful planning of a dedicated committee of volunteers. We’d like to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to Mike Broking, Marie Cook, Karen Foley, Lisa Hirschfeld, Pat Hoferkamp, Jim Leffler, Patty Parise, Liz Poskitt, and Michelle Sellaro.
We also rely on the help of volunteers to make the night run smoothly, and we’d like to thank: Kathy Damerel, Maggie Davenport, Gerri Harrell, Blair Keller, Erinn McCarthy, Rich Rosenfeld, Anna Smith, and Karen Verbeke, for checking people in, helping people bid, and selling all those raffle tickets!
Speaking of raffle tickets, congratulations to the lucky winners! Exactly 251 Split the Pot tickets were sold, raising $12,550 for our initiatives and programs and $12,550 split between three winners. Another $2,000 was raised through our new Lucky Life Vest raffle, with a life vest covered in lottery scratch-off tickets going to the winner. Congratulations again to Christine Heim, Chris Chuck, Scott Milliken, and Riley Poskitt!
Many more folks were “winners” in our auction, as well, taking home valuable items and experiences, generously donated to us by companies and individuals, near and far. We’d like to acknowledge the following auction donors and thank them for their generosity: Baronements, Jennfier Barone, The Beacon Restaurant, Black Oak Golf Club, Bridge Marina, Mike Broking, Byram Bay Bistro, Casa Bellisima, Chapala Grill 3, Charley's, Cones and Coffee Co., Crystal Springs Golf Club, Kathy Damerel, Due Process Stables, Karen Foley of Sotheby's Realty and Luxelifeagent.com, Fox Sports Network, Gary's Wine and Marketplace, Gatwyn's II, Griffin & Howe at Hudson Farms, Hackensack Riverkeeper, HarBee Beekeeping, Ken and Cindy Heaton, Bernd and Kaiya Hefele, Helrick's Framing, Lisa Hirschfeld, Marty and Laurie Kane, Bob Kays, Kula Yoga, Lake Hopatcong Adventure Company, Lake Hopatcong Boat Club and Charters, Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, Jim Leffler, Leslie Brunn Fine Art, Liz Poskitt, Mason Street Pub, Leon Moreau IV, NJ Electric Boat Company, Parfums de Marly , Esther Poulsen, Jon Rafalowski, Rainlake Media , Rich Rosenfeld, Larry and Camille Rubinstein , SavATree, Gillian and Sarah Sciaretta, Scott Morris Productions, Kelly Sheehan, Jean Sheridan, South Shore Marine, Mike Schillizzi, Mike Smith, Spark Car Wash, St. Mortiz Grill & Bar, Stone Water, Styx by the Lake, Twist on Thai, and Window Genie.
Did you miss this year’s auction? You can still participate! Available for purchase are tickets to our special “Histories and Mysteries” cruise, American River screening, private train excursion on the historic Kitchi Gammi Club passenger car, and jars of Commodore Mike’s delicious sauce, just to name a few! You can also still donate directly to one of our “Fund the Mission” needs, like a replacement EnviroScape and new dissolved oxygen meters.
We need to end by thanking our generous sponsors and advertisers, without whose support we simply could not reach our goal of raising $100K to support a vibrant and healthy Lake Hopatcong. Many thanks to these advertisers: pt. 1 and pt 2, and to the many dedicated sponsors listed below.
Finally, we need to thank YOU! Whether you attended the gala, volunteered your time, bid on an item, sponsored the event, made a donation, placed an ad in our journal, bought a raffle ticket, or helped us spread the word, we are truly grateful to our growing community of supporters who are passionate about Lake Hopatcong. Cheers to you!
Here's a look at all the fun we had on Thursday, July 18, captured by talented photographer Ulla Vinkman. Stay tuned for our 2025 Gala and Auction date!
