Christmas Fund 1997 Of Course Santa Claus Is Real; Just Take A Look In The Mirror

Thank you! A thousand times over, thank you.

Actually, 13,400 thanks to everyone who supported The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. That’s the number of children who had a gift to open today, thanks to you donors.

You made a difference in the lives of each of those children for at least one day.

You also helped pay for $253,000 in food vouchers to help 8,363 people enjoy a special meal this Christmas.

A total of $447,231.30 was donated to the Christmas Fund, surpassing the goal of $425,000.

Only in Spokane can something this magnanimous be done year after year after year. We’ve been doing it for 52 years, and the support only gets stronger.

It’s incredible, overwhelming, to see such love and support coming from such diverse corners as corporations and children wanting to help children - and everyone in between. Helping people they don’t know and will never know.

It’s the Christmas spirit personified. Gifts received Christmas Eve day totaled $39,693.56.

Helping reach that amount were the employees of Lydig Construction Inc., 603 N. Havana, who gave $2,500 “to help this year’s Christmas Fund’s compassionate goal of serving a special group of people in our community,” wrote Larry J. Swartz, president.

“… The overwhelming spirit of giving which embraces our community each year at this time is a true testimony to the depth of character and caring that we enjoy as a community. It is character of this nature that makes Spokane a very special place to live.”

The owners and employees of Kiemle & Hagood Co., 601 W. Main, contributed $2,500 “in order that Spokane’s children might have a merry Christmas,” wrote Gerald Hagood, president.

A gift of $2,200 came from the owners and employees of Huppin’s Hi-Fi Photo and Video, 421 W. Main, with this comment from Murray Huppin: “The Spokane community has been very good to us - we are privileged to participate in this important program.”

The employees and management of MacKay Manufacturing, 10011 E. Montgomery, “teamed up” to contribute $1,936 “to help those people in need at this time of year.” Modern Drywall, Inc., 9615 E. First, gave $1,500.

Employees in a company requesting anonymity gave $1,257.21 rather than exchange Christmas gifts with one another.

Travis Pattern and Foundry, 1413 E. Hawthorne Road, and its employees gave matching funds of $1,200; James and Elaine Gregerson, Liberty Lake, donated $1,000 in memory of H. and L. Rath and G. and H. Gregerson; there was one anonymous gift of $1,000 “in honor of Jesus the Christ, the reason we celebrate Christmas, in the names of our grandchildren: Michael, Nina, Branden, Trevor, Brian, Daniel, Julia, Lance, Nicole and Sabina.”

The employees and officials of DAD, Davidson & Co., 221 N. Wall, matched funds for a contribution of $730; a gift of $515 was given in memory of Susan Wiley from her husband.

Gifts of $500 were from Steve, Karen, Kelly, Robert, Kasey and Mark Fisher, Greenacres; members of St. Peter Lutheran Church, 4620 N. Regal; officials at R&R Heating and Air Conditioning, 4019 E. Central, contributed on behalf of their contractors and customers; and the management and staff at Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., 1516 W. Riverside.

Lincare Inc., 345 Third, gave $500 with “thanks to the generous spirit of our Physician Referral Sources in their support of our choice to donate to this fund in lieu of Christmas treats,” wrote Ken Shanlee, manager.

Other $500 gifts were from Annette Grainer, 1914 S. Cedar, and four anonymous donors.

Merit Electric, Inc., 815 N. Helena, and its employees gave $450; there were two anonymous gifts of $400, and one for $350. Berit Thompson, 5018 E. Glennaire, gave $300, as did United Health Services.

Gifts of $250 were from Contractors Supply, Inc., 223 E. Augusta; and the employees of Pawn 1, 401 W. Main, 4619 N. Market, 7102 N. Division, 11812 E. Sprague and the shops in Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls.

C.G. and Arlene Horton, 1923 E. 36th, also gave $250, as did Pamela Graham, Veradale, in memory of Donn Graham; Spokane Air Guard Boosters; and Kathie and James Wilhelm, 2011 E. Westminster.

The Dix family, 7510 S. Cook, gave $243.64: $194.64 from Suzy Dix in memory of her father, Peter Dix; $20 from Catlin Dix-Harris, 13; and $29 from Cody Dix Harris, 12.

Hazel Baldasty, Spokane, donated $200 in memory of her sister-in-law, Elsie Schell, who died this year, and her husband, John R. Baldasty, and to honor her two stepsons, Richard and Gerald Baldasty,”who have given me so much support, caring and love.”

Other $200 gifts were from Ron and Lisa Hall, Cheney; William Todd, 1008 E. Joseph; Debbie and Philip Gergoriore, 8315 N. Colton Place; the Young family, in memory of Danny and Del Young; Operation Stop for Spokane employees of B.N.S.F. R.R.; Helen Blackwell, 1029 W. First, in memory of Selma, and one anonymous donor.

A gift of $175 was received from the Spokane Media Federal Credit Union, 905 W. Riverside, with this note: “We feel the Christmas Fund exemplifies the credit union motto of ‘People Helping People,’ and wanted to do our part as credit union employees.” It was signed by Debie Bauer, Diana Morgan, Jamie Laughlin, Susan Maura and Charlie Wisben.

Several employees in the NeuroStroke Unit at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute gave $155, as did employees of The Spokesman-Review’s Circulation Department.

Gifts of $150 came from Chris Fry, 11407 E. 17th; Brian Hawkins and Ann Torigoe Hawkins, 424 E. 21st; the Kendalls, George, Eva and Lea; and two anonymous donors.

Another gift of $150 was from “Spot, Freckles, Rocky, Bubba, O’Reilly and their Mom (who) were inspired by Doug’s generosity.”

The Evergreen Junior High eighth-grade girls volleyball team donated their pizza party money of $143.71 for the Christmas Fund. (And you know how kids love pizza.) Bob and Debbie Glaza, Veradale, gave $131; Ted and Winnie Allen, 628 W. 17th, gave $125.

H.E. “Jim” and Cathy Ramsey asked their children to donate to the Christmas Fund rather than buy gifts for them. So, a gift of $125 was sent as Merry Christmas from the Lewis family of Dick and Chris, Jeff, Justin and Josh; the Crisp crew of Jeff and Leanne, Therese, Kellie, Corey, Brian and Danny; and the Ramsey family of Tim and Judy, Michael and Emma Kate.

Jim and Cathy Ramsey are “from families that truly love the holidays and what (they) represent - time spent with loved ones and giving to those in need,” their children wrote.

Jim and Sue Lee, 6204 N. Oxford Drive, gave $120; CH2M Hill, 9 S. Washington, gave $119; Karen and Wilbur Yates, 519 E. Shenandoah, gave $110 in memory of their grandson, Joshua Roe.

Employees of the Valley branch of Sterling Savings gave $105, money they won in a contest sponsored by the bank association. The French class at Shadle Park High School also sent $105.

, DataTimes