In 1997, Roanne Copley, Frank Rydstrom and Bruce Lee founded the WCB as a way to honor the music and enrich the community with inspiring music. Through the years, the WCB has grown from eight to 80 members and three unique performing groups including the Concert Band, Swing Band and the Flute Ensemble. The WCB is a non-profit organization run solely by volunteers under its parent organization, Friends of Windham Arts and Recreation. Band members range from young teens to senior citizens, all of whom share a common love for music and performance. Events are held throughout the year, and theWCB relies on generous donations and both ticket and CD sales to continue doing what they love best – performing and enriching the community.

Tickets for the “Around the World” musical event are $45 and are available at the door. For more information regarding the WCB’s performances, or how to provide a donation of funds, supplies, or instruments please call 603-965-3842 or email info@WindhamCommunityBand.com.

Join the Merrimack Valley YMCA for their 21st Annual Reach Out for Youth and Families Auction Gala at DiBurro’s in Haverhill, MA on March 24. Attendees of the event can help themselves to a surf-and-turf dinner with a cocktail reception and can take part in both a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the event will go towards Merrimack Valley YMCA’s community programs, financial assistance, scholarships and camp programs.

The Reach Out for Youth Families Campaign is an annual initiative geared towards ensuring everyone has an opportunity to take part in YMCA programs, regardless of their financial background. The Merrimack Valley YMCA currently serves an estimated 33,000 people annually and provides over $580,000 in financial assistance and youth scholarships. Thanks to fundraising efforts and generous donations, many participants in these programs take part for little or no cost.

This event seeks to raise funds for youth community involvement with the YMCA. Those interested in more information are asked to contact Elizabeth Covino at (978) 725-6681. Tickets are $100 per person, and all proceeds benefit the Reach Out for Youth and Families campaign.

The 6th Annual “10 Free Kick Cancer Celebration” will be held on February 23 at JP McBride’s in Haverhill, MA from 6 to 11 p.m. featuring food, raffles, music and dancing. This celebration was created specifically to raise support for patients and families dealing with cancer. Each year the Free Kick Cancer Celebration donates all proceeds to the Jimmy Fund and has raised more than $100,000 in the past five years.

Cancer survivor, Tara Ryan-Byrne, and her five-year-old son, Senan, created the Free Kick Cancer Celebration in 2007. In 2002, Tara was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma while she was five months pregnant. After surgery, as well as a series of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Tara was declared cancer-free, delivering her son shortly after.

The Free Kick Cancer Celebration is a fun and memorable event that supports both cancer patients and their families. In addition to providing a helping hand for those within the community, the Free Kick Cancer Celebration donates all proceeds to the Jimmy Fund, which then donates the money towards cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber.

Tickets to the event are $20 each and guests can expect food, raffles and a cash bar. For tickets, please email ryankickcancer@yahoo.com. JP McBride’s is located at 27 Lafayette Square in Haverhill.

Join The Wish Project Goods Bank at the Tewksbury Country Club in Tewksbury, MA on February 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. for the “Twist Again Oldies Dance.” Music will be provided by by Curtis Knight Entertainment and will feature great hits from both the ‘50s and ‘60s. There will be a 50/50 raffle, as well as prizes for the best costumes. Proceeds benefit The Wish Project Goods Bank in Lowell, MA.

The Wish Project Goods Bank assists families through the Merrimack Valley region in need of furniture, appliances, bedding, kitchen goods and more. The project provides an estimated $1 million in furniture, clothing and baby goods to over 25,000 families in need and does so by recycling more than 600 tons of furniture. The project is 95% privately-funded and helps people regardless of age, race or disability. Over two-thirds of individuals served through the program are children. The goods bank accepts donations of furniture and other miscellaneous household goods in addition to monetary donations. Furthermore, the goods bank is able to leverage every $1 donated into $4.50 worth of goods. The “Twist Again Oldies Dance” is just one of many fundraising events held annually to raise money for The Wish Project Goods Bank.

Tickets can be purchased online for a $10 donation. Visit the website and click “Donate Now” with the Program Designation set to “Oldies Dance.” Tickets will not be available at the door and those seeking more information are encouraged to contact info@TheWishProject.org or to call (508) 982-3444.

The 4th Annual Ladies’ Night Out will be held at Tupelo Music Hall in Londonderry, NH on February 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be a raffle, refreshments and entertainment for all with proceeds benefiting the New Hampshire Food Bank. Attendees are asked to wear beach attire for this year’s “fun in the sun” theme.

The New Hampshire Food Bank distributes nearly 7.8 million pounds of food per year to more than 400 soup kitchens, senior homes, food pantries, shelters and day care centers who provide food to more than 130,000 New Hampshire residents. In a tough economy, the demand for food is constantly on the rise and donations dwindle, making it difficult to meet the needs of many. In addition to the Ladies’ Night Out, there are several other fundraising events listed on the New Hampshire Food Bank website including a Snow Tubing Drive and a Community Charity Night at Joker’s Sports Bar & Bistro, both of which will benefit the food bank’s increasing needs.

Tickets are $15 per person, and attendees are asked to please bring canned food donations to the event. Those unable to attend are encouraged to view a complete list of events on the website and consider donating through the New Hampshire Food Bank’s Virtual Food Drive. For more information on Ladies’ Night Out and more ways to help, please call the New Hampshire Food Bank at (603) 669-9725.

The Newburyport Lions Club’s 29th Annual $5,000 Raffle will be held on March 10 from 7 to 11 p.m. There are a limited number of tickets available for purchase from club members at $50 per ticket. Each ticket admits two guests to the event, which will feature food, a professional DJ, dancing and a cash bar. There will be one $5,000 winner, one $500 winner, five $100 winners and ten $75 winners for the raffle. All proceeds from the event will benefit Lions Club Charities.

The Newburyport Lions Club takes on many projects annually and works closely with other community organizations such as Visual Aids Foundation, The American Red Cross, Pettingill House and Boys & Girls Club to benefit a variety of organizations and funds through its events. Each year the Lions Club also provides several high school scholarships, community service events and free eye care services for those in need.

People interested in purchasing tickets are asked to mail checks to Newburyport Lions Club, PO Box 545 in Newburyport, MA. Please call Bob LaFrance at (978) 462-8562 with any questions, comments or concerns. The raffle will be held at the Elks Lodge Hall at 25 Low St. in Newburyport.

Enterprise Bank is excited to open its newest branch in Pelham as it currently has a number of customers and employees who reside there. We look forward to serving the financial needs of Pelham residents and businesses, as well as becoming involved with charitable community endeavors. This is an exciting opportunity to reach out to our customers of Southern New Hampshire who have shown immense support as Enterprise Bank continues to grow.

The new building features a beautiful mural painted by local artist, Tom Gill, depicting Pelham’s unique character. The mural shows a scene from the Pelham Old Home Day Parade last summer. This mural symbolizes Enterprise Bank’s unique dedication to the community of Pelham and our promise to work with community organizations.

Our Pelham Enterprise Bank team includes Laura Faser, Commercial Lending, VP; Tricia Finnegan, Branch Service Manager and Karen Fournier, Branch Relationship Manager, VP. We are excited for this opportunity to work with the Pelham community and welcome everyone to meet with our Enterprise Bankers who are committed to helping you with all of your financial needs.

The 2012 Lil’ Iguana’s Family Fun Day will be held February 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Nashua South High School in Nashua, NH. The event is free and open to the public featuring food, a scavenger hunt, games, activities, jump houses, all day entertainment, crafts and health/sports “zones.” There will be many costumed characters, storytellers and children’s musicians performing at the event as well as face painting, a photo booth and vendors for parents. The event is sponsored by the Lil’ Iguana’s Children’s Safety Foundation.

Lil’ Iguana’s Children’s Safety Foundation provides educational products for parents and teachers to teach their children about important safety topics such as stranger awareness, bike safety, and the importance of wearing a seat belt. These products include CDs, DVDs, safety kits, posters and more. While the event is free and open to the public, the organization will be accepting donations to continue their work in providing safety education to children.

For a full list of vendors and performers as well as a complete list of activities, please visit the Lil’ Iguanas webste or call (603) 881-9805. Those seeking information on the organization can email Lil’ Iguanas at info@liliguanausa.org.

Bella has been working closely with many physical therapists as well as Next Step Orthotics and Prosthetics, who fitted her with advanced prosthetics. Unfortunately, Bella will require new prosthetics as she continues to grow, which is an expensive necessity not fully covered by her family’s insurance. Though Bella continues to inspire friends, family and the community, the Tucker family’s financial strain is taxing. For this purpose, the Bella Tucker Fund was established in hopes of raising money for the young girl’s life-long financial needs.

Donations can be made online or by check sent to The Bella Tucker Fund, P.O. Box 199 in Londonderry, New Hampshire. People are encouraged to visit BellaTucker.org for news on Bella’s progress and healing, as well as learn about future fundraisers and events.

Join the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity on February 11 at 6 p.m. at DiBurro’s in Ward Hill, M.A. for the annual Building Dreams Gala. The event will feature a silent auction for items like vacation getaways in Maine and Arizona, a baseball signed by Red Sox player, Adrian Gonzalez, and private lessons with a professional golfer. The gala will feature dinner with music from pianist, Kyle Landry, as well as dancing with accompaniment by the B-Street Bombers. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit housing organization for the community.

Since 1985, the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity has built and rehabilitated over 70 homes in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. These houses are built by hundreds of volunteers and are sold to low-income families at cost with zero-interest mortgages. Recipients then, in turn, help build other homes within the community. To cover the increasing cost of supplies and materials, donations and volunteer efforts play a vital role in keeping the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity alive and thriving. Those wishing to become involved with the program can visit the volunteer section of the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity website. Monetary donations can also be made through the website.

The Building Dreams Gala is one of many fundraising events that the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity hosts annually. For more information on upcoming events, please visit the events page of the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity website. If you are interested in attending the Building Dreams Gala, tickets can be purchased online or over the phone at (978) 681-8858.