THANK YOU MV!

July 30th, 2007 11:40am

This year, for the first time, the Island Affordable Housing Fund threw a weekend long multi-event fundraising drive that involved the entire Vineyard community. The huge success of the outreach was encouraging proof that the Vineyard recognizes, and is truly concerned about the housing problem on an island long considered a paradise for the wealthy.Island Affordable got together with Plum, Comcast and Film-Truth Productions to create an exciting weekend long fundraising/awareness raising event. A three day live telethon took over the airwaves of Plum - channel 76 - from Friday morning straight through Sunday night, raising hundreds of thousand of dollars for a cause that's close to us all. The broadcast included segments from Film Truth Production's "A Home for Us All" - the groundbreaking film that chronicles the housing crisis on MV and the efforts by Island Affordable to help islanders in need. Prominent guests appeared in interviews throughout the weekend, hosted segments of the fundraising drive and even pitched in answering phones. The generosity of the community was clear as online, telephone and in-person donations came through all weekend. The donations ranged from $65,000 pledged by an anonymous donor to $1.50 delivered in person by a little boy. Comcast kicked in $25K and, on Sunday, as the telethon was nearing its close just $7000 shy of the $500K goal, Patrick Ahearn of Ahearn & Shopfer very generously made up the difference. Adding to his previous donation of $7500, Ahearn was one of the top donors along with Colonial Reproductions ($20,000), Cronigs Market ($15K) and Rosbeck Builders ($10K).

At 7:00 on Sunday evening, the telethon closed with the final tally at $517,435!!!Other events that helped nudge the total along included a Sneak Preview of Film Truth's "A Home for Us All" on Thursday evening at the Grange Hall. Filmmakers Ken Wentworth and Liz Witham were on hand as moving clips from their upcoming film featured islanders who are either seeking help or have been placed in homes through Island Affordable's efforts. The action continued on Saturday and Sunday with The Island Glove, an all island town vs. town baseball series. A long standing island tradition was resurrected as four teams competed for bragging rights. Oak Bluffs edged out the up-island tri town team 7-6 on Sunday to win the title. Proceeds will be split between the Housing Fund and the new MVRHS baseball field. On Saturday night, a Premier Party at the Daniel Fisher House in Edgartown featured fabulous food by V. Jaime Hamlin & Sons and non-stop musical entertainment with the highlight a duet by Jim Belushi and Kate Taylor.Island Affordable and Plum would like to thank all those who chipped in with their time, contributions and generous donations throughout the weekend. Says IAH's director Pat Manning, "We raised the bar very high for the telethon but the MV community never dissppoints." A half million may have sounded to some like an unrealistic goal. However, notes Manning "A lot has to be said for the power of Plum in getting the word out."