Friends of the Marion COA throw gala style fundraiser

Aug 20, 2021

ARION — The Friends of the Marion Council on Aging held a gala style fundraiser event in Marion on Thursday, Aug. 19 to raise money for an outdoor pavilion at the Benjamin D. Cushing Community Center, which houses the COA.

The outdoor event featured refreshments, hors d'oeuvres, and live music and was held at a private residence on Water Street.

“It’s a beautiful home, one of the big mansions on the harbor,” said Dianne Cosman, a board member of the Friends of Marion COA of the venue, adding her thanks to the owners of the property for hosting.

The 26’ x 36’ pavilion is slated to be built in front of the community center along a ⅛ mile, ADA compliant walking path, which has already begun to be installed around the front lawn.

The Friends of the COA hope that those improvements will optimize the use of the property and benefit older adults as well as younger generations in the Marion community for many years to come.

While the walking path has already been fully funded, the Friends are now looking to raise an additional $150,000 for the pavilion. The group has now raised over $100,000, including about $11,000 from ticket sales for the fundraiser. 

“We consider it a success and we hope it will enable us to put spades in the ground by next spring,” said President of the Friends of the Marion COA Merry Conway.