Board member and community activist Nancy Haneman and Executive VP of Osborn Home Care and President of the Rye Rotary Michele Thomas. In back: Rye’s Above Committee Member Sue Autry, David, partner to Sabrina Murphy, Rye YMCA CEO Sabrina Murphy.)
The Rye’s Above butterflies and their pollinators – a myriad of artists and volunteers from the Rye Arts Center and Rye Rotary – have raised $50,000 support educational programs in the region.
The butterflies landed at Wainwright House on Milton Harbor for a close of auction event on Thursday evening. About 100 attendees put their best bids forwards to win a fluttering friend. By the end of the evening, about $30,000 was raised in the auction. Add in sponsorships and journal ads and the total will be over $50,000. That’s a lot of pollen.
More than 20 of the artists who decorated the butterflies were also on hand. There was also a live raffle of about ten themed gift baskets from Halloween Cookie and baking kits to fall flowers and one package included two huge mum planters.
This is the second year of the Rye’s Above program. Last year the benefit raised $29,000.
Some more photos from the event:
