Market event to replace Junior League's fall auction fund-raiser

The Junior League of Springfield, a 589-member volunteer organization of women, has changed the format for its seventh annual holiday fund-raiser.

This year's "Celebrate the Season" event will not be an auction, but will have a "marketplace atmosphere for vendors and merchants ... to come in and set up and sell wares," said Linda Tucker, volunteer for the Junior League.

Celebrate the Season

The two-day event will be held 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 16 and 11 a.m. -5 p.m. Nov. 17 at the University Plaza, Grand Ballroom. There will also be a shopping premier and champagne brunch 9-11 a.m. Nov. 16 at a cost of $20. General admission is $5.

Advance tickets are available at the Junior League office and the Plaid Door Resale Shop. They also can be purchased the day of the event.

Thirty-nine businesses will participate in the "holiday mart," said Carey Stubblefield, chairperson for the event.

All vendor space has been bought, Stubblefield said. "I've had more requests, but we just don't have any room." She considers this a good sign and says it's why they're booking the as-yet-unfinished trade center next year.

Last year's Celebrate was a one-evening event centered on restaurants and food tasting, Stubblefield said. It brought in about $13,000, she added.

"We're anticipating making about $20,000" from this year's event, said Mary Craven, president of the league.

In addition to shopping opportunities, the event will feature cooking demonstrations; performances by The Boys and Girls Club of Springfield, the Yes Troupe, the Springfield Ballet and Kids on the Block puppet troupe; a fashion show; a Wonders of Wildlife exhibition; and food tastings 1-3 p.m. each day.

About 20 area businesses will provide donations and contributions to the event.

Support structure

Dana Whittington, associate financial advisor for The Calhoun Group-Morgan Stanley, said the firm's $2,500 sponsorship was a good way "to give back to the community."

"The Junior League is a force in Springfield, and the things they're interested in, we're interested in community-wise," said Joan Whitaker, general manager of 417 Magazine, a media sponsor of the event. "It makes a nice fit."

Other sponsors include Coca-Cola Dr. Pepper Bottling Co., UMB Bank, KTTS, Troy Kukes Designs, Irwin Printing and KY3.

Merchants

For $300, each seller gets an 8-by-10-foot booth to offer their wares.

Mandy Britton, owner of m*b*tweenz, in the French Quarter Plaza, will be selling "girls' stuff" like bath products, jewelry, purses and CD cases.

Lamps and Christmas decorations will be on display at Heintz Lighting Center's booth, said Jane Rips, lighting decorating consultant.

Celebrate the Season is the League's second fund-raising event this year. Its spring 2002 Charity Ball was held at the Discovery Center and was attended by about 200 people; it netted the group about $5,000, Craven said. "Our expenses were larger than what we anticipated."

Plaid Door Resale Boutique

The Junior League's year-round revenue generator is the Plaid Door Resale Boutique. Opened in 1976 as the Plaid Door Thrift Store, it adds about $120,000 a year to the League's finances after a $200,000 gross take, Craven said.

Craven said in addition to providing volunteer help, in 2002 the League will spend about $100,000 on local projects such as Educational Advancement of Youth, Teen Court/Program for Young Negotiators and the Mobile Dental Care Unit in a partnership program with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks.