Another warm reception for Friendship Home

Norwell —

It was misty out last Thursday night.

We’re talking wet.

Damp.

Drizzly.

Etc.

On that night — Thursday, Feb. 25 — Friendship Home hosted its second annual Circle of Friends Gala at Lombardo’s in Randolph.

Did the weather effect turnout for the event?

Unlikely.

In an interview on Monday, Lauren Payne, the Executive Director of Friendship Home, said about 530 people attended the gala, which came complete with dinner, silent and live auctions, a unique ‘cause’ auction and music to further warm things up, courtesy of the band Dick n Jane.

“It’s always amazing to me,” said Payne. “We have a gift for having these events in terrible weather.”

And the weather, no matter how foul, she added, has rarely gotten in the way.

“People come out of the woodwork to support Friendship Home,” she said. “If we have events, people invariably come out in droves, and I think it’s a great thing.”

Though not all the figures had been finalized by Monday, Payne said the event raised more than $200,000 for the Friendship Home, which is currently being constructed behind the United Church of Christ on Main Street in Norwell.

Among the various efforts that comprised the fundraiser, the event’s live auction, which featured tickets to the Boston Red Sox’ opening day game against the Yankees, a trip to Myrtle Beach and a day of sailing with local man Jay Gallagher and more, raised about $20,000.

The event’s silent auction brought in another $20,000, and the ‘cause’ auction, which was merely a collection for Friendship Home, with no prizes attached, raised about $35,000.

“That was pretty amazing,” Payne said.

Prior to the start of the ‘cause’ auction, Friendship Home supporter George Haseotos vowed to match the charitable effort of those on hand for the gala, were they to donate $50,000. Though the collection came up a little short, Payne said Haseotos plans to contribute $50,000 anyway.

Additionally, prior to the event a number of individual and corporate sponsors chipped in thousands more, and some donors sponsored tables for Friendship Club members, about 35 of whom attended the gala.

Also on the agenda for the night was the world premiere of a new Friendship Home video, which was filmed by Kelley Rugg, a Hanover resident who runs Row Boat Productions. The moving piece, which tells the story of some Friendship Club members, garnered a lengthy round of applause at the gala, and can be viewed at the Web site: rowboatproductions.com.

“[Kelley’s] amazing,” Payne said. “She’s done an incredible job of getting to know us and capturing our story.”

First floors first

The funding raised at the gala will help Friendship Home Inc. pay for the completion (interiors, furnishings, etc.) of the lower level of the Friendship Home, where the organization’s offices and training rooms will be located.

“We’re moving forward on the lower level,” said Payne. “We’re hoping to be finished with that by June.”

While construction continues, Friendship Home staffers and friends will be continuing to raise funds to complete the top half of the structure, which will serve as the residential area for the Friendship Club members.

Payne said she hopes the entire structure could be complete by next year — January of 2011.

For more information, check out the Web site: www.friendshiphome.net.