Shrewsbury Library Foundation hosts inaugural event with retro game night fundraiser

By Melanie Petrucci, Senior Community Reporter

Shrewsbury – Do you remember the Match Game? The original Match Game premiered in 1962 on NBC and was a panel-style game show where contestants answered fill-in-the-blank questions while trying to match answers given by celebrity panelists.

The Shrewsbury Public Library Foundation hosted its own, uniquely Shrewsbury version March 17. The event was presented by Shrewsbury Dunkin’ Donuts. Funds raised will go to the foundation whose mission is to support and enrich the resources of the library and its long-term development.

Dan Barbour, the library’s young adult librarian, emceed the event. Barbour is no stranger to game shows – he was a contestant in 2009 on ABC’s “I Survived a Japanese Game Show.”

“The whole group that put this event together is so excited,” Barbour said. “We sold out [16 teams] and there is so much good energy here tonight…The community came together as a whole and we have over 40 donors and every question was sponsored by an individual or a group.”

Celebrity panelists included State Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury), State Rep. Hannah Kane (R – Shrewsbury), Shrewsbury Selectman John Lebeaux, School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Sawyer, Kathleen Keohane, Marc Serra, Maribeth Lynch, George Brown, Mike Lapomardo and Arathi Cowlagi.

The winning team was the LepreKeohanes made up of Kathleen and Michael Keohane and their children, Michael, Colleen and Connor.

“It was lots of fun, and very well thought out. I hope it becomes a regular event,” remarked Shrewsbury Media Connection (SMC) General Manager Marc Serra. SMC filmed the event and it will air on public access at a later date.

For more information about the Shrewsbury Public Library Foundation, contact Library Director Ellen Dolan at [email protected].