Thanks to All Who Made Celebrate the Arts! Evening a Success

With a few much needed raindrops outside there was nothing but sunshine inside the MVMMS on April 12th as Melrose celebrated the 4th Annual Celebrate the Arts! evening sponsored by the Victoria McLaughlin Foundation.

The evening showcased Melrose students and staff at their best.  Over twenty middle school and high school students passed hors d’oeuvres, drinks and desserts and handled the crowd for over 1,000 people like a professional wait staff. The lobby was transformed by the hard work of the Melrose Public Schools Art Department ,and many other volunteers, into a breath taking gallery displaying over 1,000 kindergarten to high school artists whose work was on display. Dawn Benski and her staff work diligently throughout the year inspiring their students to produce the artwork for the event.  The teachers also provided activities for the children including scavenger hunts to find art and work stations where the kids could do hands on activities.

Along with the visual arts being displayed attendees were delighted by outstanding performances from the Melrose High School Symphony Orchestra and the Honors Choral Group in the auditorium.  The cafeteria served as the setting for great music from Band Gig and the MHS Jazz Band to demonstrations from the Robotics Team and the Ball Room Dancing Club.  The talent from the performers was amazing and the dedication from music and arts directors Mary Weeks, Mike Buckley and Kim Piper is evident every time their students perform.

Fundraising activities include the ability to purchase and dedicate books for the Victoria McLaughlin Library, purchase raffle tickets for a Patriots Tail Gate and tickets hosted by Mayor Dolan, Red Sox – Yankees box seats, or tickets to the Melrose Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert.  There was also a silent auction table with generous donations by local businesses and artwork created by students.  Many thanks to Miter Biter Frame Company, Beacon Hill Wine & Spirits, Feeley & Driscoll, CPA, John Bulman @ Brad Hutchinson Real Estate, Archer Corporation, Absolutely Fabulous, Nick & Dawn Vecchio and Melrose High School students Alessia O’Brien and Madeline Frasca for their very generous donations.

The evening is a free event, but an added feature this year was the ability to purchase pizza, wraps, cookies and drinks for supper.  The pizza’s were very generously donated by the Corner Deli, Domino’s, Papa Gino’s, Mother’s, Petrone’s, Theo’s and the Melrose House of Pizza.  Over two thousand pieces of dessert  were donated by family and friends as well as well know local baker “Mama Giovanna” Spinale. Finally, a very special thanks to Chartwell’s Food Service and the hard work of three cafeteria workers under the direction of food service director Ken Dolce.  Ken Dolce and his team extend their working day by an additional 5 hours each year and are critical to the events success.

Over the past four years the successful fundraising that occurs during the Celebrate the Arts! Event and the very generous donations sent in by many Melrose residents and businesses have had a tremendous impact on Melrose Public School Students.  In addition to providing financial support to the Melrose Public School Fine Arts programs and the Victoria McLaughlin Library, these donations allow the Victoria McLaughlin Foundation the ability to fund the Middle School Ballroom Dancing program, the Middle School Newspaper, after school art programs, Band Gig and the Summer Movie Nights at Memorial Hall.  Hundreds of students have taken advantage of these programs over the last four years.

The evening itself is the culmination of a tremendous collaboration between Melrose Public School staff and students, local businesses and caring and supportive Melrose residents.  The end result is a wonderful evening where friends and family have the opportunity to get together and celebrate the tremendous accomplishments of our public school students.  From music to arts, to the tremendous volunteer efforts by the kids who staff the event, it really is a unique event and a show case of what is best about the children in our community.  Celebrate the Arts! could never take place without the contributions of so many that come to enjoy the evening.

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Victoria McLaughlin Foundation

John McLaughlin Jr

Florence Martin

Doreen Cincotta

Wendy Arnold

Mayor Robert Dolan

Dawn Benski

Margaret Driscoll

Suzanne Locke