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Special Events

2026 Planting Hope Garden Party

Our 2026 Planting Hope Garden Party Recap: We Raised More Than $94,000 For Our Critical Programs and Services!

2026 Planting Hope Garden Party

On Sunday, April 26, at The Museum at Hoppenville in Pennsburg, The Open Link celebrated 51 years of service to the Valley at our 2026 Planting Hope Garden Party! Guests first enjoyed a delicious brunch provided by Tosco's Pizza & Restaurant while listening to the musical accompaniment of local guitarist Rinny Petrillo.

 

Throughout the event, attendees bid on a fabulous silent auction, featuring over 90 prize packages donated by Valley community members, businesses, and organizations. Two of our board members, Rev. Nick Pence, of Palm Schwenkfelder Church, and Rev. John Buckley, Board President, of Upper Perkiomen Community Church, hosted a rousing Gifts from The Heart live auction, where guests pledged their financial support towards The Open Link's work and mission.

 

The Open Link then honored Gerry, Carmine, and Bryan Fioriglio of Family Caregivers Network, who received the annual Planting Seeds of Hope Award for their longtime dedication to the organization. Following the award, Marianne Lynch, The Open Link's Executive Director, hosted a Q&A with Sister Mary Scullion, RSM, a Philadelphia-based activist and founder and former president and executive director of Project HOME. Sister Mary thrilled guests with her candor, insight, and engagement, emphasizing the importance of having an “open mind, open heart, and open will” when learning about and helping those in need, as well as how “small steps work” in building resources and creating positive change in local communities.

 

In total, the Garden Party raised more than $94,000 towards The Open Link’s critical programs and services. Thank you to all who attended, bid in our silent and live auctions, donated funds, silent auction items, alcohol, or desserts, volunteered their time and talent, or contributed towards this year's Garden Party!

 

An additional thank you to each of our silent auction donors for donating gift baskets, gift cards, unique experiences, handmade gifts, and other items:

 

American Rock Mechanics
AndiWell
Anonymous
Applebee's
Arden Theatre Co.
Beat The Bomb
Bike & Sol
BJ's Wholesale
Black Creek Greenhouse
Blommer Chocolate Company
Bob & Christine Vogel
Brian Nester
Butter Valley Golf Course
Clip N' Dip
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
Connell-Falk Funeral Home
Costco
Crayola Experience
Dawn Englehart
Diane Granger
Family Caregivers Network
Gerry & Carmine Fioriglio
Gillespie Electric, Inc. 
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Head Hunters Salon
Henning's Market
Hilltop Woodcraft
Honeygrow
Java & Friends
Jeff & Luanne Stauffer
Jefferson Health – Lehigh Valley
Jim & Donna Montich
John & Beth Sheeran
Kathy Clancy, State Farm Insurance
Kimberton Whole Foods
Kyle & Patrick Zimmerman
Landis Supermarket
Lechner & Stauffer, Inc.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Lehigh Valley Zoo
Longwood Gardens
M&J Gourmet LLC 
Master Supply Line
Morgan Makes Cookies
Nancy Jewell
Nancy Panza
Nancy, Howard & Jeremiah Peck
Otherworld Philadelphia
Perkiomen Animal Hospital
Philadelphia Rock Gyms
Reading Fightin' Phils
Red Hill Dental
Robert E Little, Inc.
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
Senator Tracy Pennycuick
Sharon Shipe Photography
Shelby Leight, Keller Williams Realty Group
Sight & Sound Theatre
Speakeasy Coffee
Spices & Such Shop
State Rep. Milou Mackenzie
Stauffer Glove & Safety
Steve Pestrock Photography
Stone Farm Cellars & Vineyard
Target
The Energy Station
The Grand Theater
The Philadelphia Orchestra
The Rotary Club of Upper Perkiomen
The Valley Café
Tidy Up Landscaping, LLC
TOL Board 
TOL Staff
Tractor Supply - Harleysville
Tri County Area Federal Credit Union
Upper Perkiomen Community Thrift Shop
Washington House Hotel & Restaurant
Waterman's Meat Market
Wawa
Wegmans Montgomeryville
Wind Creek Bethlehem
Xtreme Mechanical

Thank you to Rae Hearts Design & Photography for donating her services and for her beautiful photography! Click the button below to view our 2026 Garden Party photo gallery.

Our Impact This Year

  • Summer Kids Meals

    20,012

  • Volunteer Hours this Year

    9,415

  • Dollars Raised in FY2024-25

    $1,512,798

  • Pantry Pounds Distributed

    254,760

© 2026 The Open Link
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