The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund is holding its annual Baskets for Ben fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 27, at the Queensbury Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6196, 32 Luzerne Road, Queensbury, New York from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on a wide array of themed baskets including golf packages, lottery ticket baskets, a Glens Falls Symphony gift card, automotive items gift packages and overnight resort hotel accommodations. The live auction will be led by auctioneer Roy Ross.
All funds raised will benefit the Fund, which was created to honor CPL Benjamin D. Osborn. Ben, a Lake George High graduate, was killed during combat operations in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on June 15, 2010, while serving in the United States Army during Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund, with the mission to “give kids a little lift,” works with 60 schools in Warren, Washington, Saratoga and Essex Counties to identify children in need. The Fund provides goods and services such as electronics, clothing, bedding, food, tutoring, school supplies, eyeglasses, transportation costs and money for field trip expenses. The Fund also provides clothing, healthy snacks, blankets and head lice kits to elementary school nurses. The Fund has provided 2,500 personal hygiene kits to emerging teens and supplies 12 local food pantries with household and personal care items.
At Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Ben Osborn Memorial Fund adopts students, families and local organizations to provide gifts, food and cheer. The Fund’s newest initiative, Ben’s Bears, with the assistance of Double H Ranch, Child Protective Services, fire companies and local police departments provides teddy bears to children who have experienced traumatic events.
Admission tickets to Baskets for Ben are $20 and include food from area restaurants and baked goods. In addition to the basket auction, guests may purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win a custom Adirondack firepit forged by Monahan Metals and a wheelbarrow full of wine donated by Hope Rosati and Friends. To purchase tickets, email the Fund at benosbornfund@gmail.com, phone (518)792-4514 or send a message via the Ben Osborn Memorial Fund Facebook page.
Baskets for Ben is sponsored by radio station Froggy 100.3 along with the sister stations of Adirondack Broadcasting and LOOK TV of Glens Falls. The Ben Osborn Memorial Fund is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization with no administrative costs.
Featured photo: Guests at the 2018 Baskets for Ben Fundraiser bid on donated items.