OXFORD — Courtesy of the Pink Feather Foundation, gangsters, murder, mayhem – and money – reigned over Whitney Farm Estate in Oxford last Thursday during its sold-out murder mystery fundraiser.

Jen Kyllonen, co-founder of the Pink Feather Foundation, told the Advertiser Democrat Friday morning that donation counts were not complete but she expected that between tickets, raffles and an impromptu auction that around $20,000 had been taken in. The event, presented by Mystery 207 of Topsham, is the biggest fundraiser the foundation has undertaken. Tickets were priced at $70 a person and sold out within a few days. Many people sat on a waiting list and were unable to attend.

“I am overwhelmed by how well it went,” Kyllonen said. “We wanted to create a fun event for the community, something completely different than a dance or raffle contests. A date night where people could dress up, come out and have a good time.”

Kyllonen said the dinner party was the first themed performance dinner in Oxford Hills that she is aware of, which Mystery 207 owner Marc Rodriguez confirmed.

Mystery 207 started out as a comedy improv group back in 2016. Rodriguez and some like-minded performers quickly found an in-demand niche for themed performance dinner parties; he founded Mystery 207 in 2019 and the business has grown quickly since coming out of the pandemic. He said dates are booked into the fall. Current party themes are based in the 1920s, the wild west, pirates, 1950s and the Titanic.

The actors who perform with Mystery 207 are all contract players who can rotate in and out of rolls, with a core troupe of around 30.

Kyllonen founded the Pink Feather Foundation with Oxford Hills educator Joni Jordon in 2011 to provide clothing to youths in need. Five years ago services expanded to an online shopping model, where students can choose a wardrobe with a week’s worth of clothing.

The kids are able to maintain anonymity throughout the process; a teacher acts as liaison between each “shopper” and the Pink Feather Foundation. The program is available to students of the Maine School Administrative districts 17 (Oxford Hills) and 16 (Poland).

“Each package contains five sets of clothing and packages of new socks and underwear,” Kyllonen said. “If they request shoes we will include that. The requests are made at the discretion of students’ teachers.

“They are the people who see the kids regularly and know what they are in need of. Kids are more confident and engaged in their classes” when they have new wardrobes of their choosing.

“Working with PFF is one of the most rewarding things I’ve done during my 20+ year career,” Jeni Jordan health teacher at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, said in an email statement.

“They are professional and truly put kids first. The amount of work this organization puts into kids they will never meet or even know the names of is incredible. When I’ve given students their PFF box, their face lights up, for some of them this is the first time they have got “new clothes.

“Teachers appreciate what PFF offers because sometimes we want to help a student and don’t know how. The way they have set up the website for teachers has made it so easy to help a student in need. This also helps create a great relationship between a student in need and their teacher, who often becomes their “go to person” because of the trust that has been built.

Kyllonen estimates that more than 200 Pink Feather Foundation shipments go out annually, but noted that since January the number of items selected has increased by 500 over last year.

“There is definitely a growing need for these kids,” she said. “We see seasonal fluctuations, but if a student receives a package of cold weather clothing in the fall they can get summer clothing when they need it, too. This week alone we sent out 11 packages containing 85 items.”

It is the work of volunteers who maintain the work of the Pink Feather Foundation and it includes local students, adults and also helpers with disabilities who find purpose helping others in their community. “About 85% of our volunteers are students, many earning their community service hours.”

Eight students volunteered as table servers during the murder mystery dinners, making them as close-up as an audience can get. Even as their work was completed the volunteers lingered to see how the murder investigation would play out.

Kyllonen said the murder mystery dinner is the first major fundraiser the Pink Feather Foundation has held and hopes to hold it annually. Traditionally most of its funding has come through grants like the Maine Community Foundation, the Walmart Community Cares Foundation as well as local private donors and family foundations. Oxford Casino & Hotel also supports the foundation through its “Give for Change” charitable program.

Several businesses served to sponsor last week’s murder mystery and donate raffle prizes. A generator valued at $1,000 was raffled off, courtesy of Flanders Electric.

Western Maine Steel provided a gift certificate towards materials to build a fire pit. Speedway, Inc. donated a private showing of the Barhe family’s classic automobile collection.

And Oxford Hills Law donated a metal American flag. As soon as the winning ticket-holder of the flag was announced, they announced they wanted to auction it off before the crowd, which added an unexpected additional $750 dollar contribution to the foundation.

The Pink Feather Foundation also presents a family-friendly fundraiser, Minute to Win It. Last year the games event took place at the Oxford County and Mechanic Falls fairs. The next one is scheduled for June 14 between 4-9 p.m. at Lost Valley. More information about the Pink Feather Foundation and its mission to support kids can be found on its website.

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