Neighbor News
Simsbury Chamber Executive Kisses Pig for Scholarship Fund
Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Lisa Gray, kisses pig at Flamig Farm for Scholarship Fund.
SIMSBURY, CT – When Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Lisa Gray, put out a call in June for $2,500 in donations to the organization’s scholarship fund, she wasn’t sure her members would actually come through.
“I set what I thought was a pretty lofty goal of raising $2,500 for the fund by August 31, 2016, and I told our members, if we reach that goal, I’ll kiss a pig!”
That’s exactly what she did at the Chamber’s “Good Morning, Simsbury” networking event held at Flamig Farm on the morning of August 31. “We were sweating it out right to the end because, when I arrived at Flamig Farm that morning, we were still over $400 short of our goal! But, the members in attendance really wanted to see me kiss that pig, so they kept the donations rolling in!”
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Chris Aubin, a member of the Simsbury Chamber and owner of Signs Plus Print in East Granby, was especially generous with his pledge back in June to match all donations up to $1,000.
“Chris was so kind to make that matching offer,” Gray said. “I don’t think we could have reached our goal without his help.”
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The Simsbury Chamber’s scholarship fund was started last year by Gray and the Chamber’s Education Committee. In 2016, they were able to award $3,000 in scholarships to deserving area high school seniors.
“This is a cause that’s close to my heart, as I sent my own son off to college this year, and my youngest son will go next year,” Gray added. “I understand what a hardship the cost of a college education can be on a family.”
According to Gray, the committee was amazed at the caliber of young talent in the Simsbury area, as evidenced by the scholarship applications received this year. “We want to be able to give even more in 2017,” she stated, “and this fundraiser definitely set us on our way.”
Asked what it was like to kiss a pig, Gray responded, “It was actually really fun. Rosie (the pig) took a little persuading, but, in the end, I won her over.”
Gray noted that the next big fundraiser will be a restaurant event hosted by Antonio’s in Simsbury sometime in the winter.
Anyone interested in making a donation, or students interested in applying for a 2017 scholarship, can call Lisa Gray at (860) 651-7307.
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Pictured in attached photo: Rosie the Pig and Lisa Gray, Simsbury Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.
