Six executive bakers are preparing to face off for the Executive Baker Challenge at the Friend Inc. Auction at Beltzner Hall in Kutztown on April 29. They will compete against each other to see who can raise the most support for their dessert to donate to Friend. Their desserts are tasted and auctioned at the event on April 29.
“It’s a popularity contest that tastes as sweet as it sounds,” said Friend Inc. Executive Director Sandra Wise in the event release. “The Executive Baker Challenge debuted in 2016 and raised more than $15,000 in funds for our programs. Most Executive Bakers meet or exceed their fundraising goal of $2,000.”
Wise said last year’s challenge winners, The Rev. Keith Rohrbach and his wife Deb, are convinced that this year’s bakers can do even better, “because no one in Northeast Berks County should go hungry!”
Proceeds benefit the Kutztown based Friend, Inc., a community service organization that helps people in need.
The six executive bakers are Kutztown Middle School Principal Jim Brown, Kim Davis of KD Consulting, LLC, Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori Donofrio-Galley, Fleetwood Superintendent Dr. Paul Eaken, Brandywine Heights Superintendent Andrew Potteiger, and Fleetwood Bank President Tim Snyder.
Donofrio-Galley said she was honored to be considered as an Executive Baker for this popular annual fundraiser and excited to encourage her personal and professional connections to support the mission of Friend, Inc.
“A high level of fun combined with showmanship and healthy competition drew me right in!” she said.
While her expertise is more cooking than baking,Donofrio-Galley said she has cooked a mean muffin or scone.
“This time, I am tackling much more decadent recipes,” she said. “In fact, I am practicing several recipes to make a determination, and difficulty will not impede my efforts!”
According to her bio for the event, Donofrio-Galley and her husband of 33 years, Richard C. Galley, are parents to Tessa, Emma, and David, along with their senior Bichon, the beloved Maxwell. She enjoys cooking and collecting cookbooks, especially ones from the 1970s and studying herbs and natural remedies. She often finds time to play Words With Friends, listen to music or go dancing with her husband. She is also a published poet.
Brown hopes to bring awareness to this cause.
“It is so much more than this one day,” said Brown. “It’s a great cause, no one should go hungry. It gives me a chance to help make a difference in the lives of some of my neighbors.”
He once cooked for a living but never desserts.
“I think it is going to be fun and I am bringing some serious game. I will have an amazing apple tart,” said Brown.
Brown said anyone interested in helping him raise money for the cause, they can contact him at school or checkout the school face book page or the district web page to get the forms for making donations. Add the baker’s name so it counts toward their $2,000. goal.
According to his bio, Jim and his wife Christine have three dogs and a cat. His hobbies include skiing in the winter and kayaking in the summer. He feels a call to any beach at any time. He thinks that you might not know that he grew up riding horses.
Brown said his bio, “I believe that all those who can should help those in need. Many of us know what it is to struggle in life. Someone has always been there for me. It is now time for me to help others.”
Snyder, President & CEO, Fleetwood Bank, in his bio, said, “Fleetwood Bank is the only community bank headquartered in Berks County. We are dedicated to being a true “Community Bank” – our employees live, work and play in our community. We measure our impact on the community by the number of business loans we make to entrepreneurs, the number of loans given to families buying homes, and the number of customers we have opening checking, savings and retirement accounts. We build relationships, and look at transactions on an individual basis versus taking a cookie-cutter approach. Decisions are made locally by people who you know and trust. More importantly, we measure our impact based on how involved we are in giving back to our community.”
According to his bio, Snyder enjoys hiking, golf and trips with his family. He and his wife Jessica have two children.
Snyder said he is participating “because the services provided by Friend, Inc. help support a variety of needs that help make our community a better place to live. This is a fun way to give back and support Friend,” according to his bio.
Davis is a nationally recognized retail consultant and payments processing professional. She is a small business and community advocate and creator of the Nine O’clock Club which stands for New Ideas, New Economy, according to her bio.
“Also an animal advocate (especially dogs), Kim resides in Kutztown with her fur kids – two wire fox terriers, Mattingly (pictured) and Georgie,” according to her bio. “She enjoys traveling, in fact if you can’t reach her; she is probably on a beach somewhere. She also enjoys personal/professional development, and overall wellness.”
Davis is an active member of the Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, volunteer at the Friend, Inc. Pet Food Pantry, and serves on the Economic Development committee for Kutztown Community Partnership.
“Kim believes in strengthening our local economies by building sustainable, self-reliant towns, giving back, and supporting local businesses,” according to her bio. “She is thrilled to be part of the executive baker challenge and thanks everyone that supported her and Mattie!”
Eaken and his wife Marilyn have three adult children, two of whom got married just last year. He is also “dad” to terrier, ‘Tucker’. His hobbies include many outdoor activities especially working in the yard and bicycling. He enjoys visiting new places, but admits that The Caribbean is his favorite vacation spot, according to his bio.
Eaken “is participating in the Executive Baker Challenge because of the essential support Friend, Inc. provides for families in our community,” according to his bio.
Potteiger has been Superintendent at Brandywine Heights for the past four years having served as Principal, Director of Curriculum and Instruction/Assistant to the Superintendent since 2007. He and his wife Amanda have three daughters; twins, Grace and Avery who are 11 and Ella who is 8. He especially enjoys woodworking, hunting and fishing and beach vacations with his family. He is involved at his church, serving on the building, scholarship and property committees, according to his bio.
“I see first-hand in our students and families the need for agencies as Friend, Inc. to support them in difficult times,” said Potteiger in his bio. “That is the reason I am a guest Executive Baker.”
Friend, Inc. Community Services is a multi-services social agency that supports the well-being of those in need and is committed to strengthening the lives of families and individuals living in Northeastern Berks County. Friend, Inc. provides a client-choice food pantry, information and referrals, budget counseling, financial crisis intervention, and facilitates partnerships with other local service providers.
To support an Executive Baker, visit http://friendinc.wixsite.com/friendevents/auction.
