Starting Point’s Boots ‘n Bling Gets a Little Help from Friends

• DateFebruary 23, 2016

Starting Point’s Boots ‘n Bling committee is off to a fast start this year thanks to Friends of Jody, a group of women who were close friends of Jody Buzzell. “These women have stepped up to help us with this enormous undertaking to honor Jody and to ensure that anyone who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence in Carroll County can get the help they need from Starting Point”, said Melissa Couture, the Executive Director of Starting Point. The Friends of Jody join the other volunteers who have been assisting with the event for the past few years.

Kathy Brassill-Doucet, the owner of Adventure Suites, is the honorary chair of Boots ‘n Bling this year. Kathy, Nora Mulkern-Bean, Bobbie Box, Beth Carta Dolan, Bernie Friberg and Sandra Steele join long-time volunteers Julie Levine, Renee Zimmerman and Sue Bergoffen to work with Starting Point on the event. “Without these ladies Starting Point simply could not execute an event of this magnitude”, stated board chair Anita Burroughs. “From soliciting local businesses for our live and silent auctions to every aspect of event planning and execution, they get the job done.”

Nora Mulkern-Bean, owner of the Shannon Door, recently worked with Friends of Jody on a fundraiser for Starting Point, raising over $4,400. This money will be the basis of this year’s “Fund a Need” at Boots ‘n Bling. “Fund a Need” focuses on specific needs of the agency and will this year honor Jody Buzzell.

Boots ‘n Bling is scheduled for Saturday, May 21^st at the White Mountain Hotel. According to Melissa Couture, “The hotel did a wonderful job last year. Our guests really enjoyed having the event out under the stars so it was not a tough decision to hold Boots ‘n Bling there again this year.”

Lead sponsors this year are The Memorial Hospital, the Memorial Hospital Medical Staff, The Valley Originals, Huggins Hospital, Hannaford, The Conway Daily Sun, Profile Subaru, Gamwell Caputo Kelsch & Co., and Burroughs Healthcare Consulting Network.

Tickets are available online at www.startingpointnh.org/boots-n-bling/ or by calling Starting Point’s office at 603-447-2494. Individual tickets are available as well as tables of 8. The event often sells out early so prospective attendees are urged to buy tickets in advance.