Union Leader Article, Dec 12, 2021
TILTON — “A labor of love,” the 40th annual Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction wrapped up by raising $583,752 to benefit organizations that help children and families throughout central New Hampshire.
The all-volunteer auction, which has raised over $7 million since its founding four decades ago by Warren Bailey, was broadcast daily from Dec. 7-10 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. out of a space at the Tanger Outlets.
On Friday evening, as the auction set was being broken down and removed, the auction’s chairman Jaimie Sousa said “My mind is blown.”
“I knew we were doing well … we could tell people were excited,” she said, adding “I had hopes of being over $500,000,” but when the amount raised went over, she was floored.
“Wow, just wow,” said Sousa of the community’s generosity.
The auction rebounded strongly from a modest showing in 2020, she said, explaining that the response in 2021 “showed us how much people want it back.”