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Pound Ridge Dentist Leads Daffodil Days Fundraiser

POUND RIDGE, N.Y. – The daffodil displays that will be popping up around Pound Ridge businesses next week are thanks to local dentist Dr. Larry Bass. 

Bass, treasurer of the Pound Ridge Business Association, took over the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days fundraiser about 10 years ago and has been helming it ever since. 

“A woman named Rosalie Roth, who owned the building that Blind Charlie’s is in, ran it every year,” Bass said. “Because she was a business property owner, she was a member of the business association and that’s how I got to know her. When she moved, there was no one left to do the campaign, so I decided to do it.” 

Every February, Bass receives a packet from the American Cancer Society explaining the different daffodil-themed products donors can purchase that year to help support the charity. Bass then contacts all the Pound Ridge businesses that are in the business association, as well as few that are not, and lets them know what is available. He said he sends out about 25 letters every year 

“A lot of the businesses participate year after year, so it’s not like I have to con them,” Bass said. 

This year, Daffodil Days offered a potted daffodil plant for $10, a bunch of 10 fresh-cut daffodils for $10, a teddy bear and a bunch of 10 daffodils for $25, or businesses could just give a $25 “Gift of Hope” to help support the cancer society’s mission.

“A lot of the businesses use (the daffodils) for displays,” Bass said. “I know that the Pound Ridge Veterinarian Center orders some potted plants and gives them to their employees. Joan Silbersher of Antiques & Tools of Business & Kitchen gets several bunches and displays them in front of her shop. Blind Charlie’s gets a couple of teddy bears. Antiques & Interiors gets a few as well. But most of them get the potted plants because they last longer”

FedEx delivers the packages to Bass and all other participants free of charge as part of its contribution to the cause. Bass then takes a couple of hours out of his day to deliver the individual daffodil orders to each business.

“I just go up and down the street with my list,” Bass said. “We usually raise about $1,000 or so.”

This year, the daffodils are expected to arrive on Wednesday, March 21.

 

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