Ladd Scholarship fund-raising pulls in more than $17,000

Fullerton Inn owner Nancy Rugg greets guests with wine and a smile. Photos by Shawn Cunningham.
Click photo to launch gallery.

By Cynthia Prairie
M ore than 100 people turned out Saturday night at the Fullerton Inn to celebrate the legacy of learning created by the late Andy and Heidi Ladd and to raise money for scholarships for graduates of Green Mountain Union High School who are seeking a college degree.

The total raised — from the silent and live auction, raffles and straight out donations before, during and after the event — amounted to $17,519, according to Chester Rotarian Malcolm Summers, who helped organize the occasion and manned the ticket sales and auction awards table with his wife Ann.

Barb Westine, Brian Morris and Steven Davis peruse the silent auction table.

While this was the first year for the scholarship to bear Heidi Ladd’s name, the Ladd Scholarship is now in its sixth year.

Tamasin Kekic and Bill Dakin.

The scholarship was initially named to honor the late Andy Ladd, who built a successful construction business despite not going to college. Soon after Heidi Ladd’s unexpected death in February of this year, her name took its place beside that of her late husband in the  newly re-christened Andy and Heidi Ladd Scholarship Fund. The fund was created by the family and Chester Rotary to honor long-time Rotarian

Tom Bock and Rit Ingersoll.

Andy Ladd, who died in 2008 at the age of 58. Heidi Ladd was 65. A celebration of Heidi’s life was held earlier in the day for her  family and many friends.

According to Summers, preliminary figures indicate that $8,679 was raised from the silent and live auctions, $740 was raised from the raffles and $8,100 came in from donations.

Interact members Leah Cunningham and Pablo Vazquez.

Steven and Nancy Davis with Rebecca Salem.

Two more donations arrived on Monday, making the total higher, he added.  Money raised will now be deposited into a segregated fund that is managed by five scholarship board members: Lily Ladd, who is the second oldest of the Ladds’ five children, Jeff Ladd, a Rotarian and Andy Ladd’s brother, and Rotarians Bill Dakin, Nancy Davis and Ron Theissen, who is president of Chester Rotary.

John Holme, Carol and Townsend Gilbert.

Said Malcolm Summers, “The event was a splendid success, with all the right ingredients, fun and laughter, which Heidi would have wanted, coupled with incredible generous warm hearted attendees.” He added that a number of first-time attendees enjoyed themselves so much they want to make sure they are invited to next year’s event.