POTTERS MILLS — The Kentucky Derby was the theme of this year’s Gala for HOPE, held April 14 at General Potter Farm Barn in Potters Mills. The evening of socializing, dancing and savoring culinary treats benefited the Penns Valley HOPE Fund, which assists community members in need.
Guests wore their best derby attire, and, like the horse race’s spectators, donned a variety of creative headpieces. A contest was held to reward the best hat designs.
The gala featured a silent auction, as well as a live auction featuring handmade furniture and a quilt. A raffle for two concourse box level passes for the Preakness at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore also was held.
Horse race-themed games were featured in the barn’s basement.
Gala organizer and HOPE Fund committee chairman Eva Gerhart shared with the crowd that the fund has dispersed $460,000 to families facing financial and medical crises since the charity’s beginning in 2008. She said the HOPE Fund is a 100 percent volunteer organization and nearly every dollar raised goes to local families in need.
HOPE Fund member T.J. Coursen also addressed the crowd, presenting the history of the charity.
Coursen was diagnosed with a rare soft-tissue cancer in 2002, and by 2008 had incurred large medical debts. Fellow members of Grace United Methodist Church in Centre Hall organized fundraisers for his family, and when his bills were paid, some money was left over. He suggested that a permanent charity be formed to help others in the area facing similar situations, and the Penns Valley HOPE Fund was born.
Since that time, many local school, church and civic groups have held fundraisers for the charity.
Coursen expressed his gratitude to the Penns Valley community for its financial help. “The way that I am able to be here right now is because of this caring community. This community embraced us, and I don’t think I can ever really repay that.”
He noted that the HOPE Fund has helped more than 200 families in the Penns Valley area over the last 10 years.
