"Doin' It For Diane" Fundraiser Looking to Help Stoughton’s Food Pantries

Stoughton's big benefit for the town's food pantries is back: the 7th Annual "Doin' It For Diane" Fundraiser will take place on Friday, April 27, from 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the (21 Railroad Ave.). 

The fundraiser is named in memory of Diane Murray, wife of longtime South School principal David Fisher. Shortly after Diane died in August 2005, the first "Doin' It For Diane" (DIFD) event was held, as a way to honor Diane and her favorite charity.

The fundraiser annually brings in between $10,000 and $15,000 for the town's two food pantries— the and the . 

The evening will include entertainment (live music), raffles, a silent auction, a cash bar and an elaborate dessert buffet. About Town Columnist Mark Snyder is serving as MC.

One-hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the two food pantries in Stoughton. Tickets are $20.

“The best thing about DIFD is that it affordably allows every person, regardless of means or wealth, to do something good for someone else.  The feeling that one receives from giving is far more heartfelt then any amount of money or material items,” Terry Schneider, Executive Director of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce and DIFD committee member, wrote in an email.

Schneider added: “But, for those who also enjoy receiving great value for their dollars, this is the best deal in town.  With hundreds of raffle and silent auction items to be won, entertainment by, not one, but two music groups, decadent and delicious desserts to die for and, if that's not enough, Mark Snyder is the emcee!!  All that for a mere $20.00 bill, how can you go wrong?”

“,” which has the goal of funneling support (and money) to local businesses, has selected DIFD as this week’s “hit,” looking to give this fundraiser a boost.

This year, there is a new player involved working with the DIFD committee and the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce in running this event—The Food Pantry Foundation of Stoughton (FPFS), a non-profit 501c3 Corporation.

“FPFS was formed in January, 2012 with the intention of taking over the DIFD event as a 501 c3 public charity, in order to make our donations from businesses and individuals as beneficial as possible. We received our exempt status on April 5th, effective February 8th, the day I filed the application,” Dori Frankel, Treasurer of the FPFS wrote in an email.

She continued: “Our goals are to support the two existing food pantries in Stoughton and to educate the public about the needs of those pantries. Our board consists of officers who previously and still do work on the DIFD committee, which is now a fundraiser of the FPFS in conjunction with the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce.  The FPFS will more than likely host another fundraiser in the fall.”

FPFS board members include: Beth Snell (President); Maria Pimental (Vice President); Nadine Israel (Secretary); Dori Frankel (Treasurer); and directors Joel Honig, Fred Yaitanes, Terry Schneider, and Dr. David Fisher.

“The DIFD committee has grown in size and the vigor of its members over the past few years, as have the needs of both St. Anthony’s and Ilse Marks food pantries.  FPFS is proud to be able to continue to provide some of the funding for these worthwhile and much utilized organizations. In the future, we look toward increasing our support to more than funding, in ways of improving the pantries abilities to service their clients,” Frankel wrote in an email.

“Hunger, and the ability to purchase food for a family’s table, is not just a city issue.  It strikes our suburbs too, so let’s not forget there are many who need this help.  Come on down Friday night and enjoy the evening, while you contribute to such a worthy endeavor.”

For more information and to find out where you can purchase tickets, click on the following link: http://www.doinitfordiane.org/. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.

Check out highlights from last year’s DIFD event here: