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March 11, 2010

Boys & Girls Club wants to know if you feel lucky

By Amanda McGregor

SALEM — There is a 6-foot-2 leprechaun in Salem leading people to something arguably more enticing than a pot of gold: $10,000 cash.

The leprechaun is the mascot for the Shamrock Sweepstakes, a contest whose lucky first-place winner will walk home with $10,000 from a St. Patrick's Day gala next week, to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

The second prize is $1,000, third prize is $500, and seven ticket holders will receive $200. Other prizes include electronics like a Flip Video camera.

"We were looking for a fun way to raise money," said Joanne Scott, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.

The Salem Waterfront Hotel donated its ballroom for the March 17 benefit, which will feature a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, snacks and sweets, and the drawing for the Shamrock Sweepstakes.

Kiss 108 radio personality Billy Costa will emcee the evening benefit along with Nate Bryant, a Salem parent and School Committee member.

"There will be a lot of laughs and lots of green," said Anne Marie Sirois, a board member at the Boys & Girls Club and one of the event organizers.

"There is so much anticipation," Sirois said. "It will just be amazing, waiting for that last winner who gets the first prize."

The organization is generating the prize money through ticket sales. Tickets for the Shamrock Sweepstakes cost $100 and can be shared by as many as 10 people.

"With people sharing tickets, it makes it more affordable to chip in," Scott said.

People at the benefit can also pose for pictures with the 6-foot-2 leprechaun, also known as volunteer Jason Walther of Salem, who is donning the costume for a good cause.

The Salem Boys & Girls Club serves 1,100 members through licensed after-school programs and drop-in programs at locations in Salem and Peabody. The club offers sports, arts and crafts, homework help, dance classes, theater, and an array of other activities, Scott said.

"Our daily attendance has increased quite a bit this year," Scott said last week from her office on Hawthorne Boulevard in Salem. "We had close to 200 kids here yesterday in this one building; it would have been around 130 to 140 last year."

Families pay only $10 a year for their children to participate in the drop-in program.

"Given the economy, and people having to take pay cuts and furloughs," Sirois said, "they are looking for a more affordable option."

Scott said the Salem Boys & Girls Club has six full-time staff, about 25 part-time staff, hundreds of volunteers and 15 board members.

The goal of the Shamrock Sweepstakes event is to generate about $14,000 for the organization and the children it serves.

"We've been here 140 years, and we're definitely going to ride the economic crisis and come out the other side," Scott said, "but it is challenging."

In addition to Scott, Sirois and Walther, the members of the Shamrock Sweepstakes Committee are board members Jim Armstrong and Holly Harris Feman and volunteers Kathy Walsh, Chris Coleman and Janis Manning. Scott said Sixty2 on Wharf restaurant donated the sweets table and Cape Cod Potato Chips donated snacks for the event.

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17, and the Shamrock Sweepstakes drawing begins at 7 p.m. Attendees do not need to purchase a Shamrock Sweepstakes ticket to attend.

Want to go?

What: Shamrock Sweepstakes gala to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

When: St. Patrick's Day, March 17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Shamrock Sweepstakes drawing begins at 7 p.m.

Where: Salem Waterfront Hotel, 225 Derby St., Salem.

Other details: There will be a sweets table, snacks and cash bar. Radio DJ Billy Costa and Salem resident Nate Bryant will be masters of ceremony.

Want a ticket?

Shamrock Sweepstakes Raffle tickets can be purchased at eight local sites, including the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem, 13 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem. For a full list of locations or for more information, visit http://bgcgs.org, or call the Boys & Girls Club at 978-744-0915.

A sampling of things to do around St. Patrick's Day

Friday, March 12

The Irish Experience at the Phillips House, 6:30 p.m., Phillips House, 34 Chestnut St., Salem. Historic New England celebrates St. Patrick's Day weekend at the Phillips House, offering a tour focusing on the Irish domestic staff, their work, their daily lives and their special relationship with the Phillips family. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. Call to reserve a space, 978-744-0440.

Saturday, March 13

The Irish Experience at the Phillips House, 10:30 a.m., Phillips House, 34 Chestnut St., Salem. Historic New England celebrates St. Patrick's Day weekend at the Phillips House, offering a tour focusing on the Irish domestic staff, their work, their daily lives and their special relationship with the Phillips family. There is currently a waiting list for this tour, but you can call to sign up for the waiting list. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for nonmembers. 978-744-0440.

Shamrock Stroll Danvers Bi-Peds trail walk, 1:30 p.m., leaving from parking lot next to 26 Hobart St. The walk is about two miles, Irish refreshments will be served during the walk. Not suitable for carriages. Dogs on leash welcome. 978-774-8159 or ibarry@danversbipeds.org. Rain date is Sunday, March 14, at 1:30 p.m.

Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner, 5:30 p.m., Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, 16 Sylvan St., Danvers. The church senior youth group is the dinner, cost is $6, or $4 for hot dogs and chips plate. Open to the public. 978-777-7408.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner, 5:30 p.m., Immaculate Conception Parish, 15 Hawthorne Blvd. Entertainment by Irish Step Dancers and parish talent. Admission is $16, children under 12 for $5, and children under 5 get in free.

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish St. Patrick's Dinner, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 94 Washington Square East, Salem. Dinner and entertainment. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children.

"An Evening With The Boys of the Lough," also featuring fiddler Frank Ferrel and singer Maeve Gilchrist, 7 p.m., Ipswich Performing Arts Center, 130 High St., Ipswich. A night of Celtic music to benefit the Ipswich Rotary Charitable Endowment. Reserved seats are $30, general admission is $25. Call the box office at 978-356-2574 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; credit cards accepted. Tickets also available at the door.

Peabody AOH's Annual Corned Beef Dinner and entertainment, 7 p.m., Peabody AOH, 58 Lowell St., Peabody. Corned beef and cabbage dinner. Entertainment includes Irish step dancers and concert by singer Stephanie McCarthy. Cost is $15. Call 978-531-7680 after 3 p.m. or visit www.aohpea.org.

Sunday, March 14

Peabody AOH's 16th annual 5K Hibernian Race, 11 a.m. To sign up, visit www.aohpea.org.

Monday, March 15

St. Patrick's Day Music performed by John Archer and Dan Murphy, 9 a.m., Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St. Wear green, sing along to traditional Irish songs and enjoy holiday refreshments. Free. Coffee at 9 a.m., program begins at 9:30 a.m. 978-921-6062.

Tuesday, March 16

St. Patrick's Day trip to see "Around the World," a motor coach will depart Hawthorne Place on Highland Avenue, Salem, at 9:45 a.m. to Wrentham, run by Salem AARP. Meal choice is corned beef and cabbage or chicken Francese with potatoes, vegetables, coffee/tea and dessert. For reservations, call Jack Laporte at 978-744-7996.

Wednesday, March 17

Peabody AOH St. Patrick's Day lunch, noon, Peabody AOH, 58 Lowell St., Peabody. Corned beef lunch, $10 per person. Call 978-531-7680 after 3 p.m. or visit www.aohpea.org.

St. Patrick's Day Celebration with Irish Music, 4 to 8:30 p.m., Rockafellas, 231 Essex St., Salem. Live and recorded Irish music, following by Audio Underground from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Salem AOH Traditional boiled Irish dinner and entertainment, 5 p.m., Salem AOH, 104 Boston St, Salem. A three-piece band will perform. Tickets are $10. 978-744-9817.

Shamrock Sweepstakes drawing and celebration, 6:30 p.m., Salem Waterfront Hotel, 225 Derby St. Shamrock Sweepstakes grand prize is $10,000. There will be other prizes and a 50/50 raffle, all to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem. There will be a sweets table, snacks and cash bar. Radio DJ Billy Costa and Salem resident Nate Bryant will emcee.

AOH presents comedian Steve Sweeney with Johnny Joyce and Patty Ross, 7 p.m., Peabody AOH, 58 Lowell St., Peabody. Cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Call 978-531-7680 after 3 p.m. or visit www.aohpea.org.

St. Patrick's Day Party with Toe Jamm, 9:30 p.m., Dodge Street Bar and Grill, 7 Dodge St., Salem. 978-745-0139.

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