By Polly Mikula
KILLINGTON—Teddy Arbo’s 33rd annual Holiday Toy Party broke a record this year collecting over $37,000 for local charities along with 750 toys.
The event was held at the Foundry at Summit Pond in Killington this past Saturday, Dec. 7. Hundreds showed up for the event.
Attendees who brought a new, unwrapped toy to the Toy Party received admission and a raffle ticket.
“It just started as a dinner party at our house with our friends,” said Ted Arbo, event founder. “When asked what they could bring to the party, we told our friends just bring a toy. Each year the party got bigger and bigger and soon we had to find a bigger space, so we teamed up with what was the Grist Mill at the time [and is now the Foundry].”
“It was always supposed to be toy party,” Arbo continued. But after a friend adopted two young children after their parents were killed in a car accident, Arbo added a raffle to the event. “The money from that raffle paid for their college,” he said.
This year’s charities included The New Story Women’s Shelter in Rutland, Open Door Mission, The Dodge House, The Upper Valley Haven, Killington Elementary School, Rutland County Parent Child Center, the United Way, Our Lady of the Mountains (a.k.a. “the little white church”), Play for Freedom and Vermont Adaptive.
Major sponsors included Killington Resort, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the Birch Ridge Inn, Jay Peak Resort and The Foundry. The Birch Ridge Inn and Jay Peak each donated a ski and stay package worth about $1,600, which was raffled off in a super raffle capped at just 75 tickets sold.
It turned out to be Dave Shahood’s lucky day as he won both packages! Numerous other items were also raffled off throughout the night in addition to items sold in a live auction.
“I want to sincerely thank the entire community that helped support the event this year, each of our sponsors gave so generously and we couldn’t have done it without them. Thanks also to the businesses that donated items for the live auction and to all the people who came, brought a toy and participated in the live auction, raffle and made the event such a success for 33rd year!” said Arbo.
