Flowers were blooming inside and outside at the Silver Lake Country Club, where the 11th annual Blooming Brunch took place on Saturday.
Lauran Burden Weber chaired the annual brunch, “Planting the Seeds of Hope,” which raises funds for GriefCare Place.
Founder Lou-Ann Redmon welcomed guests and thanked them for supporting GriefCare Place, which provides a safe place where grievers gather to educate, encourage and uplift each other throughout the healing journey after the death of a loved one.
Guests sipped mimosas while looking over the silent auction of gift baskets, garden supplies, flowers, and handmade items. The Men in Black, Dr. Phil Martucci, Bruce Redmon, Eric Weber and his son Tom, sold raffle tickets and assisted with the auction.
Weber said all of the items were donated, including the flowers throughout the room, which were provided by Baumann’s Florist & Greenhouse, Cox Florist, Dietz Florist, Herb Barn, Novelli Florist, Oregon Corners Florist, Silver Lake Florist and the Greenhouse Florist. Later the flowers were distributed by a raffle, along with the other prizes.
Emcee Tom Stephan gathered the crowd for brunch and introduced Carla Davis and her son Jason, who opened the program with the inspirational song The Prayer and later concluded with Up Where We Belong.
Keli Miller gave the invocation, and Cheryl Ward Waldron, the new managing director, said she was happy to recognize so many volunteers in the crowd.
Becky Blankenship gave a personal story of the help she received at GriefCare Place. Since its inception in 1997, nearly 10,000 people have found ongoing support through GriefCare Place and its programs.
Enjoying the brunch were: Laurie Facsina, Janet Palcko, Virginia Deighton, her daughter Danielle and her granddaughter Valerie, Louise Polenz, Pat Pakan, Mary Ann Bradford, Lorna D’Atri, Cathy Campbell, daughter Beth Snyder and granddaughter Julia Snyder.
Following brunch, former Akron resident Patricia Thomas, who now resides in Evansville, Ind., gave an inspirational program on “Silence, and the Art of Conversation.”