A note from Doug DiVello, Grace Cottage President and CEO
Monday, August 6, 2018
This Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending an event that I will never forget. With all of the advance feedback I had received about Grace Cottage Fair Day, I knew ahead of time that I was in for a treat. Boy, is that an understatement!
I am at a loss for words to describe how a small community health care organization can pull off such an amazing “party” that is the pride of thousands of southern Vermonters and out-of-state visitors. During the day, I had the pleasure of speaking with people from near and far, who recognize Fair Day as the centerpiece of their summer celebrations. And despite a little rain, it seems that our loyal supporters were not discouraged. And when the sun broke through around mid-day, the activity quickly reached a crescendo.
It clearly takes an “army” of volunteers and paid staff to put on Hospital Fair Day, and I’d like to thank all volunteers and employees who helped out. It’s a lot of work, and all of your efforts paid off, in spades. Early calculations indicate that our revenues were about the same as last year, which is no small feat, in view of the challenging weather conditions we experienced on Friday and Saturday.
I want to thank the Fair Day Committee and Foundation employees who attended to the thousands of details that it takes to organize this huge event throughout the year; our wonderful Facilities department and volunteers who worked so hard to set up and take down Fair Day (the Common was pristine by Sunday afternoon – you’re miracle workers!); all who baked 150 pies on Friday; those who picked up, sorted and moved Auction and White Elephant items, books, jewelry, and toys; Booth Chairs who dedicated their time and expertise to organize their booth or activity in the best possible way given the inclement weather; those who solicited gift certificates and items from area businesses; all who worked behind the scenes, counting money and running credit cards; performers who shared their wonderful talent with fairgoers at no charge; those who helped with traffic control and parking; volunteers who sold raffle tickets and t-shirts at other venues before the Fair; those who donate space in their homes/barns/trailers for storage; the Townshend Selectboard for allowing the use of the green; for the list goes on and on, and if I’ve left any function out, I apologize.
Grace Cottage is so fortunate that it has the admiration and support of the communities it serves. And Fair Day is a shining example of that tradition – of helping, sharing, volunteering, giving, embracing and celebrating. It could not happen without the dedication and generosity of so many.
Thousands of people will be talking about Saturday’s event, and they will be waiting with eager anticipation for Hospital Fair Day 2019!
Warm Regards,
Douglas F. DiVello, MPH, FACHE
President and CEO
Grace Cottage Family Health & Hospital
For photos of the 2018 Hospital Fair Day, link here.
