Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Dave Villiotti, left, executive director of Nashua Children's Home, accepts an initial donation from the proceeds of August's Barbecue Benefit Bash the night of the event. With him are Lou Duhamel, the lead organizer of the event, and Children's Home business manager Lori Wilshire. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA — Lou Duhamel and his team of volunteers went into the Barbecue Benefit Bash on Aug. 21 hoping to raise $10,000 for the Nashua Children’s Home.

But once the gala evening — featuring Nashua’s legendary Aces & Eights — was over, and Duhamel and Children’s Home leaders began tallying up the proceeds, they soon hit, and passed, that $10,000 goal — with still a lot left to be counted.

The tally would grow to somewhere around $21,500 by the time the final donations were counted, according to Duhamel.

He also said there could be a few late-arriving donations yet to come in.

The success of the event had Duhamel already talking about doing a second annual Barbecue Benefit Bash sometime next summer.

Present the night of the event to accept the first batch of donations were Children’s Home executive director Dave Villiotti, and its business manager, Lori Wilshire.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.