Hoover Service Club raises $18,000 for scholarships, charity with new fall event
The Hoover Service Club raised about $18,000 for college scholarships and charities with a new fall fundraiser held at Aldridge Gardens Thursday night, an organizer of the event said on Friday.
Fifty-five people attended the event, called "Hearts in Harmony: Autumn in the Gardens."
The fall outdoor fundraiser was held in lieu of the typical larger indoor event at the Hoover Country Club this coming February because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hoover Service Club decided a smaller, outdoor event would be a safer alternative and plans to hold a second smaller fundraiser in the spring, said Lynda Wasden, one of the organizers of Thursday’s event.
Still, organizers were willing to accommodate up to 100 people Thursday night but didn’t sell that many tickets. Wasden said many people were hesitant to come to the fundraiser due to COVID-19 and gave donations instead of buying tickets. Tickets for the event were $125.
The club also raised money with a silent auction at the event and a live auction for Alabama and Auburn quilts handmade by Hoover resident Wayne Wallace.
The auction was conducted by Hoover councilmen John Lyda and Mike Shaw. Lyda, an Alabama alumnus, took bids for the Alabama quilt, while Shaw, an Auburn graduate, auctioned off the Auburn quilt at the same time.
James Pitts, an Alabama alumnus, bought the Auburn quilt for his wife Liesa Pitts, an Auburn graduate, for $350, while the Alabama quilt went to Ryan and Kim Allen for $300.
The fundraiser was held under the pavilion at Aldridge and was catered by Yellow Bicycle Catering. The company provided a gourmet boxed meal that included a Southern apple salad, homemade focaccia bread, sweet tea smoked lemon chicken, crushed potatoes, savory glazed carrots and green beans, and white chocolate bread pudding with warm bourbon sauce.
The Hoover Rhythm & Jazz Combo from Hoover High School provided music.
Wasden said even though the event was smaller than usual, people seemed to have a really fun night.
She was pleased they were able to raise money for scholarships and the various charities the group supports, even it wasn’t as much as the $51,000 raised at the Hearts in Harmony event held at the Hoover Country Club this past February.
The Service Club this spring gave out $45,000 in college scholarships to 13 seniors at Hoover and Spain Park high schools.
The club also supports a variety of charities. Exact recipients have not been decided for the coming year, but Wasden said she imagines food banks will be among those to receive money from the club because of the great needs for food in the community this year.
To learn more about the Hoover Service Club or to make a donation, go to hooverserviceclub.com.