The Bucks M.C. wishes to thank everyone who took time away from their busy holiday schedules to make this year's Santa Saturday® such a complete success. It’s impressive that year after year so many people save the Saturday after Thanksgiving to support our yearly fundraiser for local charities. And this year was no exception.
It doesn’t seem possible, but this year’s event was the 35th annual Santa Saturday celebration. Sadly, the club could find no affordable venue large enough to accommodate our needs here in our hometown of New Hope, PA this year – leaving us no choice but to seek other potential locations for Santa Saturday XXXV. The thought of having to move the event out of New Hope, after 34 years, was not a pleasant one. But letting a great tradition like Santa Saturday wither on the vine was unthinkable.
Thankfully, the management at Paradise / Empress Hotel, in Asbury Park, came to our aid and graciously offered the Bucks M.C. use of their beautiful facilities for our event, free of charge. Their generosity assured that Santa Saturday would happen. But would the faithful find their way to a new location?
Proving that great traditions die hard, members of the GLBT at large, and especially the leather communities from both Bucks and Monmouth Counties turned out in full force, making Santa Saturday XXXV one of the most successful efforts yet! Despite the gloomy financial climate of the times there were over 1,000 attendees this year. Between the suggested donation at the door, the annual auction, food sales and the ever popular “Pictures with Santa” the club was able to raise over
$ 20,000 for charity thanks to your support.
This year, one half of our proceeds will benefit the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, the traditional recipient of the bulk of Santa Saturday fundraising. But something also needed to be given back to the Asbury Park area community that reached out to us and who so wholeheartedly supported this year’s change of venue. With that in mind, the Bucks M.C. will disburse the remainder divided between Center House of Asbury Park and Check-Mate of Monmouth County.
However, none of this could have happened without the willingness of some to help others. The Bucks M.C. would like to thank all the people who donated their time and talents for our cause – as well as the businesses that made generous donations of auction items and bought advertising space in our program. Performers from both the New Hope and Asbury Park areas worked together to provide entertainment and we are grateful for their support. Additionally, the management and staff at Paradise / Empress Hotel is to be commended for helping the club to keep the spirit of Santa Saturday alive. But most of all we would like to thank our volunteers and patrons…we couldn’t have done it without you!
Thank you all so very much for your loyalty and brotherhood during this season of giving.
Sincerely,
Nikk Kriss
President and brother member of the Bucks M.C.