28 Cheers for Globe Santa
Hampshire House fund-raiser gives $9,500 to cause
Judging by the turnout for their annual holiday auction at the Hampshire House on Beacon Hill late in November, chief organizer Eddie Doyle knew this year's Cheers for Children fund-raising effort would again succeed at making a difference in the lives of many children, some of whom face serious health problems, others with the possibility of receiving no gifts on Christmas Day.
"It was an unbelievable party, with an eclectic crowd and a ton of enthusiasm," Doyle said recently. "Everyone I talked to said it was a big hit."
Not surprisingly, the party proved to be a big hit for the four child-related charities it benefits as well.
Marking the 28th consecutive year Cheers for Children has collected money during the holiday season to help families and children in need, the people at Hampshire House this year raised $38,000.
The money was split equally and Globe Santa, The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care, The Jimmy Fund, and Friends of Floating Hospital for Children each received $9,500.
The idea to organize a fund-raiser for children was set in motion in 1980 when Doyle and John Grasso, a manager at the Bull and Finch Pub, read a Globe Santa article in the Globe and decided to get involved.
In what was a last-minute effort, the two men hastily organized an auction and made their first donation of $570 to Globe Santa.
Since then, both the pub and its charitable effort have grown significantly. In 1985, the annual auction was named Cheers for Children, after the successful TV show "Cheers," which transformed the Bull and Finch from a local pub to a popular tourist attraction and landmark.
In 2004, the organization surpassed the million-dollar mark in money raised for the four charities.
Doyle attributes the effort's continued success to countless volunteers who give their time and energy to organize what has become a well-known holiday celebration.
He made special mention of Tom Kershaw, owner of Cheers and honorary chairman of the auction, Victoria Ruff, Sandi Russell, Ali Inserra, Amy Fedora, Brian Nolan, Bruce Dean, Bob and Patricia Renaghan, and the "Cape Cod Connection," a group that travels to Boston every year and helps set up three floors at Hampshire House for the event and also sells tickets for the raffles.
Some of the more popular items auctioned on November 28th included trips to Key West and Bermuda, an autographed portrait of Ted Williams, and a signed photo that captured Jonathon Papelbon leaping into Jason Varitek's arms after recording the final out of this year's World Series.
Bar stations for the event were manned by the 1976 American League rookie of the year, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, WBZ4 News chief and political correspondent John Henning, Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, and FoxTV Newsmen Gene Lavanchy, Doug Meehan, and Doug "VB" Goudie.
But perhaps the most popular celebrity bartenders were the three Celtics Dancers who attended the auction for the first time. Situated on the third floor of the Hampshire House, the green-clad guests in their Santa caps generated quite a buzz.
"There were quite a few young men who seemed to buy all their drinks from the bar on the top floor, so maybe we'll have to move the Celtic Dancers around a little next year," Doyle said. 