During the past 29 years, our effort to raise funds for the Charities of “Cheers for Children,” has endured some difficult periods. Our country’s economy has gone through some tough years and currently it has put a strain on all our lives, our jobs, and our families. During the bleakest of hours and challenging times, “Cheers for Children” survived simply because of people helping people. Our friends, patrons, vendors, co-workers, neighbors, and newcomers were there to help . . . and this was true for thousands of other charities all across the United States. It’s the good old American spirit that shines true.

On December 3, 2008, we will celebrate our 29th Annual Holiday Auction with a Gala Party and Silent Auction on all three floors of the Hampshire House. Who would have ever believed that a little Auction which was the brainchild of two Bull & Finch Pub bartenders, Eddie Doyle and John Grasso back in 1980, would still be alive and going strong today.

“I can recall like it was yesterday, how our staff rallied to secure items for the event on short notice” said Eddie Doyle, a 34-year veteran bartender of “Cheers.” The first Auction was for the Globe Santa Fund and raised $570. It was a small crowd of regulars that gathered around the Bull & Finch bar that night and the bidding was fast and furious, slowing down only because the Auctioneer had to make some drinks. “One of the last items was a five dollar Monopoly Game and it went for almost half of the total that was raised,” said Doyle.

In the years that followed, they became more organized, the crowds got bigger and the totals increased by the thousands. John Grasso, then the Pub manager, approached the owner of the Hampshire House, Tom Kershaw, and they agreed the event should be moved upstairs to the Library. The room in the Pub was just too small to handle the crowd. A committee of Staff and Regulars was formed. The Auction had reached a new plateau and with the advent of the TV sitcom “Cheers,” folks climbed on our bandwagon along with some of Boston’s big spenders who enjoyed the heavy bidding.

In 1991, two Boston charities became the newest beneficiaries of the “Cheers for Children” Auction. The Jimmy Fund and the Friends of Floating Hospital were now on board. The Cam Neely Foundation joined us in 1998. Special donations were given to the Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund.

Matt Siegal from Kiss-108 was our official Auctioneer and local sports notables took over the “Celebrity Bar.” Former Red Sox players, John Kennedy and Bob Stanley joined Mark “The Bird” Fidrych (Detroit Tigers legend), the late Sox announcer Ken Coleman, former Sox skipper Joe Morgan, the current voice of the Red Sox Joe Castiglione, Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, Boston Bruins’ legend Johnny “Pie” McKenzie, FOX-25 “Traffic Guy” Doug Meehan and WBZ News Correspondent John Henning. Patriots and Celtics Cheerleaders came by to help and have a few pictures taken with some of the guests.

At the 25th Annual Holiday Auction in 2005, “Cheers for Children” surpassed
the One Million Dollar mark. To this day, this annual Holiday event is produced
by a group of volunteers, friends, and staff, who come together with a simple goal ... to raise funds to help others in need. We hope you will be able to join us on December 3rd, 2008 for our 29th Holiday Gala and Auction. If you would like to provide something for the auction or just make a donation, please contact Eddie Doyle at 617-227-9600 or at info@cheersforchildren.org