In October of 2009, I set an ambitious goal - to raise $10,000 to be split between two local charities. In addition to our smaller events - meat raffles, regular raffles, etc. - I wanted to have one big event to generate a large portion of the money. The Weymouth Elks was kind enough to donate the hall but eight weeks before the event, I realized the idea I had - a crafts fair - just wasn't going to work. So, after brainstorming with a couple of my close friends, I came up with the idea of a karaoke contest.
Because of the challenging economic times, I was told by many people that it wasn't going to work either. But I really believed in it and with the yeoman help of my friend, Charlie Clancy, who went from Boy Scout leader to tireless and patient talent scout, the genius and creativity of my friend, Marianne Smith Murphy, who helped my ideas come to life and who made all of my ideas better, and the encouragement and generosity of Susie Chu, who owns the Cathay Center in Weymouth, the day exceeded our wildest dreams. We had a standing-room only crowd and we had people still paying to come in even after we'd announced the five finalists. The lovely and talented Angela Rossi walked away with the top prize of $500 in a field of 23 wonderful singers, who ranged in age from 20’s through 70’s.
We netted over $5,600 that day and reached the $10,000 mark on May 21, 2010, with half the money going to the Weymouth Food Pantry and the other half going to CarePacks, which sends care packages to our brave troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our second event, on February 27, 2011, which was a singular fundraiser, netted $9,560 which was split between the Weymouth Food Pantry and Ce Ce and Friends Animal Shelter. We were fortunate to have 27 outstanding singers, who put on an incredible show for the standing-room only crowd. Terri Riley, who finished second in our inaugural contest, blew the audience away with her winning song “Piece Of My Heart’’ by Janis Joplin.
I want to thank everyone who helped us - the staff of the Weymouth Elks, all my friends who chipped in by recommending singers and sponsoring them as well as those who supported me in so many other ways, Brian Chase, who did a great job at the door, Ed Carson, our wonderful videographer who donated his time, his terrific wife Pat Carson who worked her magic on the raffles, the singers, the restaurants who sponsored the performers, the friends, family members and co-workers who were in the audience to cheer on the contestants and my amazing judging panel - NECN's Chet Curtis, Weymouth Town Councilor and Plymouth County Commissioner Brian McDonald, Beth Ann Homoleski (a brilliant singing talent in her own right) and Evan Meyer - who had a very difficult job that day given the tremendous talent level.
I am grateful to you all. I look forward to welcoming many of you back for our 2012 event, which will be held on February 26.
Sincerely,
Nancy Marrapese-Burrell Event Chairman
