September Gala, 2011

SAGE has many people to thank for the well-attended gala starring the brilliant young pianist Matt Savage –a “prodigious savant” since childhood, and an accomplished jazz musician who has jammed with many of jazz’s biggest names. For over an hour on the evening of September 10th, Savage enthralled and charmed his audience by playing his own compositions, including music inspired by his life on an organic farm in New Hampshire, as well as such standards as “Lush Life” and “It Might As Well Be Spring.” After the performance, he sat for a meet-and-greet.

Along with Matt Savage, we owe our most grateful thanks to Laura Carlo, the Morning Host of Boston’s All Classical Station, 99.5, who graciously served as our emcee. We are deeply indebted to Diane Linnehan, mother of a SAGE farmer and a great friend to this organization who spoke movingly about her daughter’s experiences in SAGE farm programs and the need for more of them and a SAGE residential farmstead community.

We convey special thanks to our volunteers and others who went out of their way to help us with this event: Bob Ward, Mary Schmidt, Will Mongeau (wfmbosski@aol.com), Damian Schmidt, Allie Yanikoski, Eleanor Monserud, Lauren Barnett, Randy Yanikoski, Gail Kharidia, Diane Savage, Barbara D. Jackins, Esq. (member of SAGE Advisory Board), Vanessa Medeiros, Bill Getman, Sally Farrow, Ellie Pasternack, Gary Monserud, Bittersweet Farms and Drumlin Farm.

We thank our generous business sponsors:

Silver ($1,000)

SalemFive Charitable Foundation (and Joseph M. Gibbons, President and CEO)

Benefactor ($500)

Bay State Federal Savings Charitable Foundation (and John F. Murphy, Chairman and CEO)

Patron ($250)

Middlesex Bank, Natick (and Ashley Insel)

Friends ($100)

Boston Organics (and Jeff Barry)

People’s United Bank (and Mary Ann Donovan)

Enterprise Bank, Acton (and Jamie Tomc and Wendy Baker)

Johnson String Instruments (and Julia McKenzie)

People’s United Bank (and Timothy P. Crimmins, Jr., President)

Charles S. Yanikoski, Retirement Advisor (www.ChuckYRetirement.com)

Rollstone Bank (and Melissa Kuehl)

Thoughtful Dog Software (Laurie Crane and John Bradford)

We thank those who donated wonderful and generous raffle/silent auction items:

Joan & Peter Mongeau

Diane Linnehan

Becca Day-Newsham and David Newsham

Betsy Pielock and the BOSE Corportation

Sorrento’s (Concord)

Susan Buckley

Susan Scott

Erica Cannarozzi and Serafina Restorante (Concord)

Jorge Guerricra and Sierra’s Restaurant (Sudbury)

Hailey Connelly and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Hermi Marrero and Six Flags New England

Stephanie O’Connor and Pegasus Tack Shop (Acton)

David R. Biblin and the Boston Marriott Copley Place

Angelo Bisol and Hannaford Supermarket (Lunenberg)

Rich Ruffing and Accelerated Fitness, LLC (Lexington)

The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation

Jillian’s/Lucky Strike Boston

Jackie Martinez and Elements Therapeutic Massage (Acton)

Diane and Craig Cafarelli

Ann Molly and Neptune’s Harvest Fertilizer

Donna Leon, 3 Sons Healing (Lunenberg)

Vicki Obee-Hilty and Bittersweet Farms

Barbara Nichols, Mary Kay Consultant

Bobby, Bobby’s Ranch (Westford)

Horseman’s Exchange (Littleton)

Sheila Moore and the 99 Restaurant (Westford)

Cheri Patron and Greener Pastures (Chelmsford)

Matt Landry and Agway (Chelmsford)

Shelbi Bacon and J.P. Licks (Wellesley)

Beat Da’Wrap (Waltham)

Creeping Thyme Farm, Brooklin, Maine

We gratefully thank our wine & beer donors:

Samuel Adams and the Boston Beer Company

Kappy’s Fine Wine & Spirits of Sudbury (and David L. Fields)

Berman’s Wine & Spirits, Lexington (and Bonnie & Joel Berman)

Colonial Spirits, Acton (and Timothy C. Bush)

SAGE also thanks

Neillo’s Corporate Catering

Inc Etc, Acton (and John Sheehy)

The National Heritage Museum (and Patti Callahan)

And we are deeply grateful to the many kind and generous friends and new friends of SAGE who could not be with us for this event but sent a donation. We will be listing them under “How to Become a Friend of SAGE” on our website.