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

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

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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Celebrate the Season|ret||ret||tab|

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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. |ret||ret||tab|

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

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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

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Support structure|ret||ret||tab|

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." |ret||ret||tab|

"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." |ret||ret||tab|

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

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Merchants|ret||ret||tab|

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

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. |ret||ret||tab|

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

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."|ret||ret||tab|

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Plaid Door Resale Boutique |ret||ret||tab|

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.|ret||ret||tab|

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. |ret||ret||tab|

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