Jea Poth, Steve Janavicus, Gerri Murphy, Andre Dubus, III, Carole O'Connor, Jill McCann, Betty Jaffe, Karen Marshall, Angela Zinsmeister, and NECC President Lane Glenn.

More than 125 guests of the Women of Northern Essex Community College were treated to a buffet dinner hosted by author Andre Dubus III and his wife Fontaine Dubus on Saturday, June 9, at their Boston Road home in Newbury.

The Dubuses graciously hosted the annual fundraiser which raised more than $20,000 for scholarships.
Dubus, author of The House of Sand and Fog, and Townie, and NECC President Lane Glenn led the auction while standing high above the crowd of 125 on the kitchen countertop. The most popular auction item was Dubus’s offer to write a short story featuring the highest bidder’s character of choice. This honor went for $1300 to not one but two bidders, raising $2600 to support student scholarships and programs. The high bidders were Ken Yameen and Nancy Haddad.

Andre Dubus III and Byron Matthews

The Women of Northern Essex Community College is a volunteer organization dedicated to assisting Northern Essex Community College and its students. The organization generates funds for student scholarships and special projects by conducting a variety of fundraising events throughout the year, including a Fall Membership Tea and a June Gala Open House event.

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