Warren Galkin and Scott Avedisian know how to help kids – eat apple pie.

Well, actually it is buying pies that really boosted the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick’s Annual Dinner, Auction and $10,000 Cash Raffle Red Carpet Spectacular held April 9 at the Warwick Country Club. Attended by about 250 people, the event raised more than $65,000.

Galkin, a longtime friend and benefactor of the club, was the high bidder in the traditional apple pie auction. His bid of $2,100 took the pie home.

As Karin Kavanagh recalls, the auctioneer was pushing the price up when someone blurted out they’d pay $500 to throw the pie in the mayor’s face.

“As soon as he heard that he started taking off his tie and his jacket. He was a really good sport,” said Kavanagh. When the price hit $1,000 the auctioneer sold the pie. Boys & Girls Club board member Steve Tilley delivered the trophy to the mayor.

“He didn’t get to eat much, just what ended up on his face,” said Kavanagh.

While Avedisian got to take home a taste of pie, it was Kirk Jordan who brought home the dough. Jordan was the winner in the $10,000 raffle.

The occasion also saw the recognition of Ray Desmarais, who received the Boys & Girls Clubs of Warwick Hall of Fame Award, and CarMax, who accepted the Community Hero Award.

Desmarais of Johnston is the operations director of nine 99 Restaurant and Pubs. The chain has been a Boys and Girls Club partner for more than 15 years, conducting a fundraising month for the benefit of the club. The restaurant will cater the dinner of this year’s Youth of the Year event on May 18.

Proceeds from the fundraiser support the nonprofit’s mission of providing a safe, supervised, fun place for kids to go after school and during school vacations. No child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. The club has facilities in Oakland Beach and Norwood.

The Boys & Girls club serves youth ages 5-18 with special concern for those who need us most to help them become productive, responsible members of society.