Annual Carousel Fund benefit raises $160,000 for ailing kids

October 5, 2005

The Carousel Fund's 18th annual Casino Night dinner-dance-auction raised nearly $160,000 Saturday night to help the local non-profit's mission of providing financial assistance to children and their families suffering from catastrophic illness.

The funds were raised primarily through the sale of items at live and silent auctions during the evening. One live auction item alone -- a one-week trip to a villa in France and a cycling trip during the Tour de France -- generated $7,500, according to Arnie Cohen, founder of the Carousel Fund.

More than 1,200 people attended the formal event at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building.

"It was an exciting and extremely rewarding event," said Cohen, who was followed most of the evening by a television crew from KPIX Channel 5 and newscaster Kate Kelly, for a segment about Cohen and the Carousel Fund to air tonight (Oct. 5) during the channel's 6:30 p.m. newscast.

Cohen, who will be honored by KPIX as a recipient of the Jefferson Award for community service, said "I'm honored and humbled" by the award. "As far as I'm concerned, this is an award that's owned by the whole community.

"Clearly, this event is an example of how Petaluma cares about kids and of the generosity people in this community have toward helping children," Cohen said.

The estimated $160,000 raised made the event one of the organization's most financially successful ever. "It's very heartwarming," said Cohen. "At a time when there's so much else going on, we're so thrilled to have such a spirit of generosity in Petaluma."

Other auction items included travel packages to Disneyland, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Cancun, Mexico; a seven-day cruise on an ocean liner and sports memorabilia items autographed by Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Peyton Manning.

Blues guitarist Elvin Bishop performed with the Peter Welker All-Stars to wind up the evening.

The evening was dedicated to three children with serious illnesses -- Zachary, Jessie and John -- whose families are being helped by the Carousel Fund.

Corporate sponsors of the event were Basin Street Properties, Mike Hudson Distributing and All-American Printing Services.