HOLIDAY CHARITY BENEFIT AT CRAWDADDY’S
Once again, the Chamber is getting ready for our Annual Holiday Charity Benefit, where 100% of the proceeds benefit West Allis and West Milwaukee Families this holiday season! As in the past, we will work with the West Allis Health Department, YPSM, and other community members and organizations to benefit families in need by helping them purchase food and gifts for the holiday season.

The Chamber makes it fun and easy for you to help! Come to our Holiday Party on December 6th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Crawdaddy’s. Again this year’s the party will feature a White Elephant Auction instead of a traditional silent auction and raffle. “White Elephant” refers to a tradition of giving gift items consisting of old trinkets, knickknacks, or unwanted gifts from previous years (also known as "regifting"). Bring a wrapped gift (new or gently used, valued at least $20) to the Chamber before the Benefit to receive $10 off your admission. At the party, you will have the opportunity to purchase ‘white elephants.’ And of course, we will have some ringer gifts. You never know what you will wind up with. It might be a ‘leg lamp,’ or it might be diamond earrings.

Admission is $35 per person or $25 per person with wrapped gift donation. Great Cajun food, beer, and soda, music, fun, and games included with admission. Your admission contribution, less $8 per person, is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. There are also sponsorship opportunities available, please call the Chamber for details. Registration forms are available at the Chamber office or download the PDF here. Don’t wait until the last minute to register!

CHRISTMAS ON THE AVENUE

For many years, the City of West Allis' Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and the Downtown Business Improvement Holiday Stroll have been held on separate days. This year, on Saturday, December 1, 2007, we are going to combine these events to truly create a day-long celebration of the spirit of the season. The Christmas Parade, sponsored by Wauwatosa Savings Bank, will start off the celebration in the late morning. There will be a hunger task force food drive during and after the parade sponsored by Rupena’s, so bring your cans and nonperishable foods!

After the parade is done, Downtown Greenfield Avenue businesses will host a variety of fun community activities for all ages. There will be free transportation running through the Downtown throughout the day. At 4 p.m., a community caroling sing-along will occur at City Hall. The event will culminate in the lighting of the City Hall Christmas tree at 4:30 pm.

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Thank you to all who participated in our Holiday Charity Benefit efforts in December 2006. This year, Painted Parrot was a gracious host to 105 guests at the Benefit. We sold out of our gift certificate tree within 1 hour making it a very popular offering! Many attendees and others donated wrapped "White Elephant Gifts" for our auction. The unique nature of the auction was a lot of fun and we think that we have found the White Elephant of 2007 to display at next year's event. With all of your generous donations and purchases of gift certificates and auction items, we raised just over $5000.00 this year!!! With that money, we purchased gifts for 40 needy children and 50 needy seniors. Additionally, we purchased 177 food gift cards that were distributed to needy families and seniors in our communities. What a great way to end the year and start a new year! I would like to especially thank our Sponsors, Anchor Bank and Hub South as well as the larger donors including: the West Allis Professional Police Association, Dr. Frederick Walker, Sharon Larson, Majdecki's Sentry, and the many West Allis City Employees who made donations Of course, thank you to Greg and all of his staff at the Painted Parrot. The food and drink were great as was the atmosphere!