In the spirit of the season, Christmas Gala supports Boys & Girls Club

The numbers still are being counted, but the first figures are $17,800 was raised Saturday during the semi-formal Festival of the Trees Fall Gala held to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff, said Terri L. McCormick, the club’s resource development director/finance director.

The event was held at the Black River Coliseum.

McCormick used the word “fabulous” to describe the figure, which is only from the night of the event, including the auction.

She wanted to say, “thanks to the community for coming together and really stepping it up.”

The phrase she heard the most was “it is for the kids. We are doing this for the kids. It is the best event I have been a part of.”

Poplar Bluff Realty donated $7,500 to help finance the fundraiser.

The big surprise of the evening was unbelievable when Gail Fox-Dohrman donated a bus to the club in the memory of her mother, the late Trudy Duncan, organizers said.

Duncan had asked Fox-Dohrman to give her vehicle to someone who needed it. Instead, Fox-Dohrman purchased the bus for the club.

“It was a big surprise for Chris Rushin,” said McCormick, adding it brought tears to everyone’s eyes. “It left Chris Rushin crying and speechless.”

The semi-formal event featured a jazz band, dinner by Karon Campbell’s Tasteful Creations and refreshments by Wil Fisher Companies.