By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – It’s been a good season for some local fundraisers in our community, with the Boys and Girls Club of the Olympic Peninsula setting an all-time high at this month’s 35th Auction Dinner Gala.
Resource Development Director Janet Gray says on November 11, attendees at the event with the theme “Be the Force”, pledged $450,000, $100,000 above their goal. She gives at least some of the credit to local celebrity and Club member Pearle Peterson, who recently sang the National Anthem at a World Series game.
“We’re blessed by this community. Everyone really does what it takes for our kids and Bid For Kids is an enormous part of our success with this fundraiser, and being able to have Pearle be on stage and sing, I’m sure inspired and moved quite a few people, and it was a very tangible and visible success story right in front of everybody.”
Another wildly successful event was this past weekend’s 33rd annual Festival of Trees, benefiting The Olympic Medical Center Foundation. This year’s multi-day fundraiser netted $202,000 over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend during five events, beginning with the Opening Ceremonies Presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on Wednesday night.
The Festival then held its annual Gala on Friday night, when 46 trees were auctioned or raffled off. The Senior Breakfast was held Friday morning, which was followed by the Teddy Bear Tea on Saturday, and Family Days on Saturday and Sunday.
Earlier this month, the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation held their annual fundraiser, Winterfest, at the Vern Burton Center. More than $70,000 was raised.
Proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s winter sports education programs, scholarships for underprivileged youth in the community who would like to learn how to ski or snowboard, Ski Patrol and instructor training as well as capital improvements to the ski area.
If you would like further information on the scholarship program and the services that are offered by the Education Foundation visit hurricaneridge.com.
(Photo: Pearle Peterson performs at recent fundraiser, courtesy of Janet Gray)