That's A Wrap! Our 1st Annual Great American Golf Tournament

 Great American Golf Tournament Follow Up

Our Take Home Bags & Centerpiece

Month's of planning and within a day our 1st Annual Great American Golf Tournament is over.  For all of you out there dancing to the sun gods, many thanks! We were graced with a gorgeous 80 degree day with lots of sun and the day's events from registration to saying farewell went off without a hitch. Together we raised about $3,900! (final total to be determined by the silent auction results).



Thank You To All Our Wonderful Players

Methuen Fire

Comprised solely of friends and co-workers, the field of players for our tourney was just outstanding.  It was our goal to create an event that people would enjoy and look forward to each year.  To see so many supporters join us for our first ever Great American Golf Tournament was heartwarming and motivation to revisit the event in 2012...which is already in the works!

The lovely Mandy!

 To Our Wonderful Volunteers Thank You!

 We could not have done it without you!!  A big fat thank you to Mandy and Abbey who did an unbelievable job throughout the whole tournament, Lisa of LI Designs who took most of our pictures and my mom Sharon who helped get things rolling at registration.

I'd also like to send a very warm thank you to Dennis McCarthy of Lazarus House Ministries who, even though was not on the volunteer roster, showed up (twice) to donate his time.  What incredible support!

The Incredible Fred

To My Wonderful Husband Fred

Like I mentioned on The Friends of Kevin Radio Show, "It always seems to start with Fred..." and without a doubt, this golf tournament was all Fred.  He got the golfers, ran the games, he made the speech at the reception, heck* he even came up with the idea!  To have him hop on the bake sale band wagon with me and be so excited about doing it all over again next year is phenomenal.  We have truly become a family fundraising for No Kid Hungry...and that's just plain awesome.


To Our Wonderful Sponsors, Vendors & Donators

1st Hole

KBK Sports who hosted the silent auction and whose founder is the VP of The Lowell Spinners.


Blast Mixer Smoothies, Lemonade and Skinny Alternative Energy Drinks for hosting a table at the registration area and making a charitable contribution to our tourney.

Click Here For The Full List of People Involved
 
A Big Fat Thank You to Merrimack Valley Golf Club!  

The View From Registration/Clubhouse

 Awesome, awesome people!  I showed up well before I was expected (a habit of mine) and was greeted by the most exceptional staff.  From the help with set up to coordinating the tournament, these guys were top notch.  We heard from just about every golfer that the course looked incredible and played well.  Merrimack Valley Golf Club



Incredible Food From Simply Elegant Catering!

Breakfast's Coffee & Pastry Table

Simply Elegant Catering provided us with the most incredible guy -Andrew- to manage the meals served at our tournament.  He bent over backwards for us and was a great addition to the tournament staff for the day.  Sam and Michele were very accommodating and really made a huge impact on the success of the day.  Also, they donated all the left over food from the tournament to Lazarus House Ministries' emergency shelter. 

Other Fun From The Day

1, 2, 3...Shoot!

Carts were driving around the course offering samples of wine, scotch and tequila. I know, I know- It sounds like a bad idea, but the golfers loved it!

Posing for the camera

Bobby (right) and my wonderful husband Fred (left)

No, we're not kidding.  This guy actually shot the worm....

The Putt Off

Our 11 Finalists

The Peanut Gallery! Or should I say hecklers.

Dennis Gillespie, who didn't make the $5K putt (sorry Dennis!)

A Follow Up To Our Final Two Bake Sales of 2011!

Our Great American Bake Sale At The Meat House

How's Your Heat?

Talk about a hot, hot, hot bake sale!  Ill admit, I was nervous going into this event when I heard the temps would be in the mid-nineties and I would be sharing my tent with a lit grill.  But alas, the bake sale gods shined down and we came ever so close to selling out.  We were also graced with the presence of Heather co-owner of Planet Marshmallow (one of the incredible products sold at The Meat House).  A little tip, get the Peanut Butter Bash...incredible!  The days total was 2 dollars shy of $300, putting our Team's total to $1816.00 for the year. We'd love to hit that $2,000 mark before our Great American Golf Tournament (hint, hint).

Special Thank Yous

Thank you out to The Meat House of North Andover for letting up set up shop in front of their store, the event literally would not have been possible without their help.  Also, a huge thank you to The Meat House social media marketing department for their overwhelming support with Tweets and ReTweets before, during and after our event.  Thank you also to Denise Smith who purchased a Cookies With Care package which will be delivered to Capernaum Place and benefit the fight to end childhood hunger in America!  The reception at this event was one of the best to date!  Thanks to everyone who stopped to shop and learn more about Share Our Strength and Great American Bake Sale.

The Great American Bake Sale at Philips Healthcare (Andover)

3 buildings, dozens of bakers, a raffle, fresh squeezed lemonade and $4350.00 for No Kid Hungry! 

What an awesome, awesome, awesome event!  This was the 3rd year Great American Bake Sale filled the lobby(s) of Philips Healthcare with the event growing lager and larger every year.  To date, Philips Healthcare's Great American Bake Sale has raised $10,763.05!!

The Incredible Eve Lee everyone!

Many thanks to Eve Lee, hostess of the event, for the invite to participate!  Not only does Eve play hostess to this event, one of the most successful Great American Bake Sales in the country, but she also helps to coordinate Taste Of The Nation Boston, which is where we originally met this past April.  I love connecting with others dedicated to ending childhood hunger in America and the fact that Eve does so, so much for Share Our Strength and is literally minutes away is just great!

Bake Sale Participants: Some Inspiration For Packaging & Product!

One of the most common questions in The Bake Sale Neighborhood (a social platform for Great American Bake Sale participants to meet, ask questions and share advice on how to have a successful event) is in regards to what to bake and how to package it.  So here are some great sell outs that were at the day's event. 



Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
I love the fact these were made by a Cookie Central Facebook Fan!  Laurie C. made these wonderful treats that added so much flare to the table..for the short time they were on it (Sold Out!).  She did say they were a bit time consuming, but if you have the time I would definitely recommend batching out a few for your next bake sale.



How adorable are these!?! Blue fondant stars on top these chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream.  Cupcake wrappers like these can be found at your local craft store.





Chocolate Covered Oreos on a Stick! 
These suckers sold, sold, sold.  They are easy to make and can be decorated with a variety of sprinkles.



Here's a creative and inexpensive way to package those individual cupcakes.  Simply drop the cupcake in a clear disposable cup, cover with plastic wrap and tie with a ribbon.



Give your individual cupcakes a bit of flare!  Sets of bags and cake (or in this case cupcake) circles are available at your local craft store



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The Past, Present and Future Of Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale

We are halfway through Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale season!  With three online promotions and four bake table events under belt, I'm pleased to announce we have raised almost 25% of our intended goal.  You may be thinking this number is a tad off for a halfway mark but as they say, the best is yet to come. 



We are currently promoting our last (we think) online promotion of the season.  Cookies With Care has been the most anticipated online promotion we've run as it incorporates Lazarus House, one of our area's most prominent anti-hunger/poverty organizations  This incredible organization is one that, like Share Our Strength, seeks to provide, create and maintain "long term solutions" to the issues of hunger, poverty and homelessness that face our community.  I am thrilled to announce that we've received a very positive early response.

We are also looking forward to three, yes I said three, bake table events during the month of July.  In our "2011 GABS Summary" page you can find all the pertinent information to attend one of these illustrious events! However, to give you a bit of an overview of what to expect.... We will be revisiting the North Andover Common this coming weekend for the 4th of July celebrations.  We have also made plans to team up with The Meat House located in The Vinyard plaza.  How can you go wrong when you mix wine, BBQ and cookies am I right?!  We have also been invited to join the Great American Bake Sale over at Philips Medical in Andover, MA.  This event I am so excited for!  The woman (or possibly one of the woman) hosting this event is none other then Eve Lee who I volunteered for over at Taste of the Nation Boston.  She is an avid Share Our Strength supporter and a veteran of Great American Bake Sale.  To be a part of her bake sale will certainly kick some serious butt!

And now, our Great American Bake Sale season finale..... the Great American Golf Tournament!  Thanks to my wonderful husband we have gone head first into the plannings of what we hope to become an annual event in our GABS.  We will need volunteers!!  We could also use as much help as can be spared spreading the news across various platforms of social media, so get your RT/Share/Like fingers ready!  Check out our GAGT page in the link above for specifics, registration links and sponsor info.  AND REMEMBER! We are selling dinner tickets to the event.....not playing golf is not an excuse ;)

So that wraps up our segment on the past, present and future of our 2011 GABS.  We hope to see one (at least one) of you at an upcoming event and extend our eternal gratitude to everyone who has already participated in Cookie Central's 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale.

Wishing you all an incredible week! ~ Michele :)

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A Thank You And A New Event!

The Haverhill Taste Of The Town this past Saturday was a smashing success!  We had some extraordinary people visit our table this year and it was great to have the opportunity to talk about Cookie Central and our 3rd Annual Great American Bake Sale campaign. 

43 Dollar Days raffle tickets were sold along with a few No Kid Hungry cookies and Share Our Strength cookie pops.  If you were one of the wonderful people who donate please check back in here, on our YouTube Channel, our Facebook Fan Page or our Twitter Stream for the video of the raffle drawing to be posted on April 16th!

For everyone who came by THANK YOU! 

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We're Teaming Up!

That's right, Cookie Central is hoping on the bandwagon of another Great American Bake Sale! 

It's always exciting when we meet people who are as moved by Share Our Strength's mission to end childhood hunger in the U.S. as we are.  Lo and behold we found someone right here in our home town.  The lovely Wendi Roy is the epitome of the Super Mom. With 3 awesome girls, this blogger behind Anyone Can Cook and contributor to North Andover Patch, finds the time to sell Pampered Chef products all while holding down a full time job...incredible! 

We are thrilled to be volunteering at Wendi's Great American Bake Sale:

Anyone Can Help End Childhood Hunger

Tuesday, March 29th

11-2

35 Village Road 

SAS Institute Inc., Middleton, MA 

If you are in the Middleton area please come by for some incredible goodies (trust me I know what's on the menu).  You'll find us right in the lobby of the SAS Institute building (located next to Coco Key). 

Can't Make Wendi's Bake Sale?

You can still donate to Wendi's campaign on her Team Page

or

Check out Wendi on Pampered Chef. 

15% of any sales from THIS LINK will be donated to the cause!

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THANKS TO:

THE METHUEN FIREFIGHTERS UNION LOCAL 1691

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The city of Methuen that has been facing mass layoff of civil service workers. In fact, just two months ago 33 firefighters in Methuen held pink slips in their hands, unsure of what the outcome of the city budget would be....still they donated!

The generosity of the union during such a hard time shows their dedication to their community and the importance of our cause.

I would like to send a special thank you out to my husband Fred, a Methuen firefighter. With the $200.00 donation made by his Local 1691 Share Our Strength will be able to fill the backpacks of 50 children full of healthy food to feed them and their families for over a weekend!

Thank You To Everyone Who Attended Our 2010 Great American Bake Sale

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It was in the 90s, but still you came!

We had an amazing turnout, selling just about everything on our table! The days totals were almost $400.00 bringing our season total to over $2000.00, all of which will help feed hungry kids in America! We are looking forward to selling off the last of our product today and will update everyone with our final totals once we have them.

Success at the MFA!

As I had mentioned in an earlier post...

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The instructors and recruit class 187 of the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Stow, MA have joined our fight to end child hunger in America. This was only possible because of the involvement of the fabulous people at Jake's, the food service providers at the academy!

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Jake's very generously offered to display our baked goods and signs in their shop, selling and collecting money brought in by the employees and recruits.

Over the course of a week we raised $115.00!

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As if their (Jake's) assistance wasn't enough, they offered to donate the money from their desserts sold the final week of the session!
I am proud to announce they raised an additional $126.00 this final week!!

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It is wonderful to have such great people stand behind such a great cause!

With their help our total raised is now just under $1700.00

Thanks To The MFA, Recruit Class 187 & Erin (from Jake's)

As many of you may already know, my husband Fred is attending The Massachusetts Firefighter Academy in Stow, MA.

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As part of Team Cookie Central, Fred agreed to ask Erin from Jake's (the food services for the academy) if she would be interested in helping to sell baked product to end child hunger. Erin was not only willing, but has gone above and beyond letting me send down cookies and brownies on multiple occasions.

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The instructors at the MFA and Recruit Class 187 have been extremely receptive to our cause, many donating a little more than asked or even without purchasing at all! All of us involved are incredibly excited to see the results and I will post as soon as we have a definite number!

The Wonderful K and K Kreations!

Carolyn from K and K Kreations

has joined the fight against child hunger in America!

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K and K Kreations will be providing the ribbons and bows for our Cookie Gift Boxes. Carolyn will also be helping to spread the word about Share Our Strength and The Great American Bake Sale throughout her hometown of Duluth, MN!

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To find out more about Carolyn's handmade artificial silk floral arrangements/wreaths, or custom bows and boutonnieres please contact them at:

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K and K Kreations

3721 Lavaque Rd.

Duluth, MN 55810

218-260-1354

www.kandkfloral.artsefest.com

Please Welcome Our Newest Team Member!

I am pleased to say Sharon Yu has joined our team!

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Sharon will be selling gift bags and boxes of cookies to help raise money for our bake sale.

100% of the money Sharon raises will be donated to

Share Our Strength, a national organization commited to ending child hunger in America!

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Not going to see Sharon?

Donate on her behalf at

Sharon's Team Page

Please Welcome La Physique' Slimming Spa

Cookie Central is proud to announce La Physique' Slimming Spa has joined our team! The lovely Julie Johnson will be selling cookie gift bags and recruiting new volunteers and we are thrilled to have her as our newest team member :D

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La Physique' Slimming Spa

24720 B HGWY 17

Waynesville, MO 65583

573-774-3925

Julie's Blog: http://tiny.cc/JulieBlog

La Physique' on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LaPhysiqueJulie

Click on La Physique' in our Businesses involed to be taken to their website!

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A Note From La Physique'

Hello! My name is Julie Johnson, and I established Young at Heart in 1995, and the La Physique' Slimming Spa, in 2004, after realizing what a great addition slimming spas were to training!

La Physique' Slimming Spa is a full-service slimming spa located in Waynesville, Missouri, and is co-located with Young at Heart Personal Fitness Training. We have FDA approved slimming spas, such as Cellulite Abatement, Slimming Parafango spa, Mandarin Exfoliation spa, and incredible spa packages. We also have a dry-infrared sauna, shower facilities, lounge area, full on-site store and more!