Pine-based nonprofit raises $10K-plus for Make-A-Wish

The theme was tea-party chic for 412 Gives Back’s latest fundraiser on behalf of Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia Inc.

For the occasion, that meant plenty of brightly colored, floral-patterned dresses worn by the women in attendance, complemented by festive fascinator hats.

The event, called Stock the Cellar, served as a kickoff for next year’s 412 Gives Back Gala. Guests were asked to bring donations to be used in a wine pull at the gala, scheduled for Jan. 11 at the Fox Chapel Golf Club. Forty-eight bottles of wine were collected, valued at $40 or higher, with some over $100.

Celebrating Stock the Cellar as a tea party served as a prelude to the gala’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”/Mad Hatter motif.

Co-founded by Pine residents Amy Fleming and Billie Higgins, 412 Gives Back raised more than $10,000 during the May 30 event at the Treesdale Cider House, just over the county line in Adams. Of that amount, $7,647 came from the raffle of an authentic Saint Laurent handbag donated by Qintel, a North Shore company that solves cyber crime problems with data and technology solutions.

With wishes costing about $5,000 each, the money will help two children in the region have adventures of their choosing.

Donating her musical talents on electric violin was Rachel Aiken, owner and director of Stellare Strings. Tiffany Cooper, who owns hot metal studio, served as volunteer photographer.

Sheri Leix of Aspinwall brought her Poppin Daisies Flower Co. mini-truck for guests to design their own bouquets, and jewelry from Kendra Scott was available for purchase. The vendors donated 20% of sales to Make-A-Wish.

For a Stock the Cellar dessert bar, donors were Too Nice To Slice Speciality Cakes & Chocolates in Freedom, H.D. Dudt Bakery in Pine, One Sweet Cookie Bakery in Economy and Gabby’s Cookie Jar.

And Mars Beer Distributor in Adams made a major beverage donation.

In greeting guests, Fleming and Higgins thanked fellow members of the 412 Gives Back committee: Ellen Cignetti, Lindsay Kocan, Laura Lawler, Jordana Lenz, Kira Mesoraco, Jenn Retter, Jen Schambura, KC Smith and Tara Wotus.

“We were here hours yesterday and this morning setting up, and we could not do this work without you,” Fleming said, “and not only for just this event, but throughout the entire year.”

For more information about the all-volunteer nonprofit 412 Gives Back, visit www.412givesback.org.