PHOTOS BY DEIDRE DAVIDSON (DavidsonFoto.com)
Over 600 people attended the annual Hermosa Beach Education Foundation Hearts of Hermosa fundraising event last Saturday evening.
The event, which featured both a live and silent auction, made more than $240,000. Residents, businesses and restaurants donated everything from wine and gift baskets to travel packages and stand up paddleboards. Assemblyman Al Muratuschi also made an early appearance.
“It’s a very fun party and a great way to have a good time and meet your neighbors and make money for our schools,” HBEF President Stephanie Bell said.
This year the fundraiser added an extra element by eliminating the traditional paper silent auction and replacing it with an online bidding program.
“It takes some getting used to,” Hermosa Beach resident Rose Rocchio said while bidding at the event. “It’s going to get tricky in the end.”
A photograph by Bo Bridges of students lying on the beach in the form of a heart attracted the highest number of bids and ended up selling for $2,000. According to Bell they made $30,000 more than last year, making it their best fundraising year ever. ER
