One of the biggest questions faced by nonprofit agencies like The Chase Home in Portsmouth is how to address gaps in their respective budgets, which is generally answered through fundraising events. For The Chase Home, one answer is its upcoming 5th Wine & Chocolate Tasting, an event Executive Director Meme Wheeler said underscores harsh realities.
“We are mandated to address the needs of youth and families in crisis, and we are underfunded,” she said. “It is a reality we face everyday.”
Taking place on Tuesday, November 13 at The Atlantic Grill in Rye, the fundraising goal for The Chase Home’s 5th Wine & Chocolate Tasting is $50,000. Describing this goal as “admittedly ambitious,” Jennifer Desrosiers, who serves on The Chase Home Board and is the owner of Laney & Lu in Exeter, cited a sense of urgency.
“To ensure we meet current needs and build a platform for future sustainability, we need to engage the community and get people to feel like this is their Chase Home,” she said. “We are meeting critical complex social needs within vulnerable populations. I believe we can achieve our fundraising goal and I am very excited at making new friends for The Chase Home.”
In addition to wine, chocolate and appetizers, this year’s event will feature a silent and live auction. Proceeds will support programs and services provided by The Chase Home to at-risk youth and families in crisis.
Major sponsors for the event include Kennebunk Savings and Meredith Village Savings Bank with additional support from nearly a dozen other organizations and individuals. Many event sponsors are new to The Chase Home, including Northeast Delta Dental.
“We are happy to support The Chase Home’s efforts to help meet the needs of New Hampshire’s at-risk youth,” said Tom Raffio, president & CEO of Northeast Delta Dental. “We are committed to improving the overall health and wellness of the communities we serve throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.”
Expressing appreciation for “all those who support The Chase Home,” Wheeler added, “Gaps in our budget are youth in crisis. By working together, we can eliminate these gaps now and take steps to reduce them in the future.”
The 5th Wine & Chocolate Tasting will take place on Tuesday, November 13 from 6 and 8 pm at The Atlantic Grill, 5 Pioneer Road in Rye. Doors open at 5:30 pm and a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.