Benefit Auction

Ann Priester Towne retired in 2018 after teaching art history at Lehigh University and 4th grade in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.  She is a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she helps organize Kutztown Kitchen, a free monthly community meal.  She also volunteers as an ESL teacher.  She loves travel, studying languages, reading, and dancing.  An enthusiastic baker since childhood, she will be helped by her son Sam (a pathologist at St. Luke’s) in making a spectacular dessert for the 2026 Friend Auction. 

Holly and Andy are a married couple who have proudly worked at East Penn Manufacturing for a combined 60 years. When they’re not on the job, you’ll usually find them in the kitchen cooking and baking for their kids and those they love most—something they truly love doing together. Now they’re ready to put their skills to the test for a great cause. From sweet treats to bragging rights, they’re excited to bake, have fun, and help raise money for local charity and a great cause.

Tracy Driehaus works at Kutztown University in the College of Education, where she spends her days partnering with schools and supporting future teachers. But at home, her most important role is mom to three adult daughters, each of whom has very strong and very specific opinions about what qualifies as the “best family dessert.” Baking and cooking in the Driehaus kitchen is equal parts therapy, creativity, and friendly debate. She’s excited (and slightly nervous!) to see how this auction crowd judges the family favorite she’s bringing to the table. Tracy is proud to participate in the Friend, Inc. bake-off and auction, helping raise funds to support the incredible work Friend, Inc. does in our community.

Amy Pfeiler-Wunder serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Kutztown University, where she also served as professor and department chair in the Department of Art Education. She has served in the field of education for over 30 years. Prior to her roles at Kutztown University, she had the joy of teaching art education in a range of settings.  Amy has been baking since she was very young, first in her easy bake oven, and then side by side with her mom and grandmothers. Her daughter and husband are huge fans of all baked goods, with muffin and cookie making weekly endeavors in the Wunder household!  Amy looks forward to sharing her baking with the community to raise funds in support of Friend Inc.

Lauren Kehl, the heart behind Heritage Homestead — a small family farm rooted in hard work, faith, and raising things the right way. From pasture-raised animals to handcrafted farm goods, everything they do is built on intention and care. Her passion about teaching others where their food comes from shines through in creating quality products, raising her kids and educating the value of responsibility, self-reliance, and sustainable farming practices. She is deeply grateful for the support of her community and feels honored to give back through the Baking Challenge for Friend Inc., supporting neighbors in need with a full heart. 

Sara Appleman has long been dedicated to serving the Berks County community, contributing her time and leadership on the board of Friend Inc. and Leadership Berks. For the Appleman family, service is more than a commitment—it’s a faith-inspired calling grounded in their home parish of St. Mary’s.

This year, the family is sharing that spirit in a sweet way through the Friend Inc. Baker Challenge. Sara and her daughters will be preparing a special dessert for Friend’s annual auction, putting their hearts into every detail. The Appleman family is grateful for the opportunity to participate and feels truly honored to support their community in meaningful, faith-filled ways.