731 Pre-Emption Road, Geneva, New York 14456
35 North Street, Canandaigua, New York 14424

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
TODAY’S DATE:
February 9, 2006

CONTACT:
Cheryl L. Coppola
Development Director
(585) 394-8178 x7264
ccoppola@happinesshouse.org

$31,000 raised at Happiness House’s 3rd Annual Gala Dinner & Auction Event hosted by Founding Sponsor Belhurst

Happiness House – Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association held its 3rd Annual Gala Dinner & Auction Event on Friday, February 3rd, 2006.

Donations from local businesses, Happiness House Staff, Board of Directors and families, and our community supported the live and silent auction events. Sponsorship dollars, raffle ticket sales, and auction bidders helped Happiness House to raise $31,000. Distinguished guests included Happiness House Board Members, community leaders, and representatives from our Major Sponsors; Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, First Niagara Bank, and The Lyons National Bank, as well as our Corporate Sponsors; Mary Boatfield, Community Bank, NA, Constellation Brands, Inc., Finger Lakes Medical Associates, NYSEG, and Five Star Bank. Geneva’s Frank Pullano was the auctioneer, and Patrice Walsh from WHAM-TV 13 was the Mistress of Ceremonies.

Keynote speaker Mrs. Heidi Haus is employed as a Speech Pathologist at Happiness House, and also has a child who attends the New Friends Preschool Program. She shared her personal and inspirational story, “Everything happens for a reason”, about her experiences as a professional and as a parent of a child with special needs.

All proceeds from the event will go toward Happiness House’s “Happiness Is Helping” Capital Campaign goal of $1.5 million.

Happiness House- Finger Lakes Cerebral Palsy Association is a private nonprofit health and human service agency that has been serving communities in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York since 1969. Today with sites in Geneva, Canandaigua, and Waterloo, Happiness House offers an array of educational program, recreational and family support services for children and adults with and without disabilities who reside in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties. On average Happiness House serves 700 individuals and their families each year.
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