Sacred Heart Workers Take To The Stage To Boost Endowment

There is something heartwarming about a group of nurses, technicians, receptionists and therapists from Sacred Heart Medical Center who sing and dance on stage to raise funds for the hospital.

The result is a fresh and lively talent show that has delighted audiences for more than a decade.

The medical center’s one-of-a-kind extravaganza is Heart Follies ‘97, to be performed Saturday at the Spokane Opera House.

This year’s show, “Swingin’ at the Heart,” is a colorful, fast-moving song-and-dance revue featuring Big Band tunes from the ‘30s and ‘40s, including musical sounds from Spokane’s Natatorium Park.

Since 1986, hundreds of staff members, friends and families of Sacred Heart have been a part of Heart Follies, which aim to build teamwork and friendship among employees while directing proceeds to the Sister Peter Claver Endowment Fund. The fund supports hospital education and research and serves the needs of the elderly and medically underserved.

Kay Anderson, Heart Follies chairwoman, said talent for the show is gleaned from all departments, from nursing units to the carpentry shop.

“What is really amazing,” said Anderson, “is that you can take a group of enthusiastic but mostly amateur employees, give them glitzy costumes, stage sets, and a professional director, and you have a great show.”

Director is Jaime Donegan, from Philadelphia, whose production company supports several fund-raising theatrical events around the country.

Seats are available for both the 2 and 8 p.m. performances. General admission tickets are $6, available through G&B Select-a-Seat, 325-SEAT, or Sacred Heart Medical Center, 622-2101.

Fallen Leaf fund-raiser

Although the cause of SIDS - sudden infant death syndrome - remains unknown, funds are critical to continue research of the tragic phenomenon affecting thousands of infants each year.

Support the Eastern Washington branch of the SIDS Foundation by participating in the 15th annual Fallen Leaf Run next Sunday at Manito Park. Event proceeds will remain in the region to fund awareness programs and the SIDS newsletter, which supports grieving families.

The 4.2-mile run/walk/jog begins at 10 a.m. at Manito Park’s duck pond. Check-in is at 8:30.

The course makes a circle through the park, followed by a noon ceremony awarding first-, second- and third-place finishers among men, women and children.

Entry fees are $20, which includes a long-sleeve T-shirt. Without a shirt, cost is $8.

Entry forms are available at the SIDS office, 202 E. Pacific, or by sending your name, address, age, sex, and T-shirt size (medium, large, extra large) with the entry fee, to: Fallen Leaf Run for SIDS, EWBO SIDS Foundation, 202 E. Pacific, Suite 1, Spokane, WA 99202.

For more information, call 456-0505.

Community events

Every three seconds across the nation, someone needs blood. Despite the growing need for blood donors, less than 5 percent of eligible healthy Americans actually donate each year.

Firefighters in our community are doing their part. For the rest of September, city and county firefighters will continue their annual Firefighters Challenge, a competition among fire stations to achieve the highest percentage of donors.

Last year’s winner was District 4, which hopes for a repeat victory.

Firefighter families and friends can support the station of their choice with a blood donation at the Inland Northwest Blood Center, 807 S. Washington.

The center is open Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For questions on eligibility, or to schedule an appointment, call 624-0151.

Mary Fairhurst, president of the Washington State Bar Association, will speak on “Stewards for Justice: A Call to Service,” Friday at Gonzaga University’s Law Forum.

The public is invited to the program from 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. in Gonzaga University’s Jepson Center Auditorium.

Fairhurst, a state assistant attorney general, is the second woman president of the state bar association. She is the first public sector attorney to lead the 23,000 licensed attorneys in the state.

Fairhurst graduated magna cum laude from Gonzaga’s Law School and received the 1984 Legal Argumentation Award.

Forum tickets are $10 ($8 if purchased by Monday), which includes a continental breakfast.

To register, call 328-4220, ext. 3759.

October is Intimate Partner Violence Awareness Month, an opportunity for the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium to educate the public about domestic violence.

In an effort to spread the message that domestic violence will not be tolerated, the consortium will sponsor “Hands are for Hugging - Ceramic Tile and Clay Decorating” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park, near the Carousel.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., youngsters of all ages can make an imprint of their hands on clay tiles for a commemorative collage. The tiles will be glazed, fired and displayed throughout October at various locations.

The event’s goal is to teach children that hitting is not an acceptable way to communicate.

Formed in 1992, the nonprofit domestic violence consortium is a communitywide collaborative effort of legal, medical, social-service, religious and business organizations working to coordinate the community’s response to intimate partner violence.

For more information, call 487-6783.

Community Update appears each Sunday in The Spokesman Review. Please allow two weeks notice for inclusion in this column.

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