Christmas Fund 2000 The Outpouring Is Overwhelming Kaiser, Huppin’S Deliver Big Gifts
Just when you think there are no more fund-saving donors, another $10,000 check arrives for The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund.
Kaiser Aluminum, northwest regional headquarters, 534 E. Trent, offered that great-hearted contribution, while Huppin’s Hi-Fi, Photo & Video, 421 W. Main, contributed a noble gift of $7,003, which helped bring Friday’s total to $46,254.60.
We now have a very grand total so far of $483,219.59.
Isn’t that incredible?
This is the time in each year’s drive when it’s nearly overwhelming to consider the goodness of our community - residents, organizations and businesses. I wonder if there’s any other area in our part of the country that’s anywhere near as generous. I doubt it.
In Kaiser’s letter accompanying its gift of $10,000, Pete Forsyth, vice president of Northwest regional affairs, and Susan Ashe, Northwest public affairs manager, wrote:
“Each year the Christmas Fund makes a great difference in the lives of many throughout the Inland Northwest, and it is with sincere thanks for these efforts that Kaiser Aluminum and its employees contribute $10,000 to your worthy fund.
“We want to wish all of you associated with this true meaning of the season, and especially the many who benefit from this wonderful community Christmas Fund, a most joyful, peaceful and blessed holiday season.”
The “all of you associated … ” includes you, the donors to our honorable project of helping our needy neighbors at Christmastime.
Murray Huppin, president of Huppin’s Hi-Fi, Photo & Video, wrote:
“Each year, with enthusiasm, our employees look forward to the opportunity to participate in The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund. The Spokane community has been very supportive of our store and each year our officers and employees look forward to this opportunity to share our blessings with those less fortunate. On behalf of the entire Huppin’s staff, please accept the enclosed contribution of $7,003.”
The staff (who are so helpful to us camera dodos) and owners have greatly increased their donations each year since they began giving in 1995. Thank you.
On Friday, the Christmas Bureau served 664 families; $25,305 in food vouchers were distributed; and 975 toys and the same number of books were handed out. During the bureau’s 10 days of operation, 9,280 families were served; vouchers worth $354,715 were handed out; and 15,410 toys and that many books were distributed - all records for the Christmas Bureau.
Other donors in Friday’s count were:
Garco Construction, 4114 E. Broadway, contributed $4,000, gifts of the employees matched by the company. The letter from James T. Welsh, president, read:
“During the year 2000, Garco Construction was fortunate enough to build two new shelters for those in our society that need special help. The experience for our employees involved in building the new St. Margaret’s Shelter and the House of Charity was quite special and gave us a new understanding of the needs of so many.”
Years ago, the law offices of Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller decided to support the Christmas Fund rather than sending Christmas cards within the firm. This year, the contribution of $3,140 was accompanied by this letter from Curtis Shoemaker: “That tradition has grown to the point that it is well beyond the Christmas card costs, but rather a genuine interest on the part of staff and attorneys to participate in the fund that assists those that are considerably less fortunate in our community.
“This year, we had a terrific response to The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund invitation. In addition, the law firm has determined to match all individual contributions that have come in. … Thank you for all you do in helping this community to stay focused on helping those in need.”
See what I mean about the goodness of our community?
A gift of $3,000 came from Wagstaff Inc., 3910 N. Flora Road. Ken Roberts Investment Management, 601 W. Riverside, contributed $3,000 with this letter from Kenneth Roberts, president:
The fund’s “capacity as a volunteer organization means a great deal to us as donors, since we know that 100 percent of our contribution is directed towards the needy at this time of year. We are thankful for your efforts on behalf of those that need assistance, and we appreciate all the givers of Spokane that work together to make our community a better place for all.”
Colvico Inc., Electrical Contractor, 2121 N. Waterworks, made a donation of $2,000; H.L. and Barbara Hoffman, Mesa, Ariz., contributed $1,000.
The annual Christmas bake sale at the YMCA, begun many years ago by the late Cathy Wright as a fund-raiser for the Christmas Fund, sold enough holiday calories and crafts this year to donate $820 in Cathy’s memory. She began the project as a way to teach her 2-year-old students about giving and sharing, an accompanying letter said. Everyone at the Y misses her laughter and jingle bells.
The management and staff at Lancer Ltd. and Prestige Travel, 10020 E, Montgomery, contributed $650. The many employees of A.W. Rehn and Associates Inc., 140 S. Arthur, sent their gift of $540 with a letter signed festively with signatures in red, saying in part: “As this year comes to a close, we, the employees of A.W. Rehn and Associates, Inc., are able to be thankful for many blessings. We would like to share with others who are not as fortunate.”
Worthy Enterprises, Contractors/Developers, 1330 N. Washington, contributed $500, as did an anonymous donor.
Employees in The Spokesman-Review’s Advertising Department headed up a buildingwide 50/50 raffle, with $414.09 going to the fund. (Some lucky winner won the same amount.)
Wheelchair Transport, 801 E. Second, donated $325 “ … to give back to the community on behalf of our staff and also to show appreciation to the many people who have a need to use our service throughout the year.”
Gifts of $300 came from Ford Motor Credit, 901 N. Monroe, and the Vern and May Hogberg family, 11709 S. Kathy Lane, who gave “out of appreciation for a beautiful family, which includes eight grandchildren, and for the City of Spokane for welcoming our son and daughter-in-law’s restaurant, Luigi’s, back with such enthusiasm.”
Donations of $250 came from K, K, B, B, M, M, “dedicated to Honeymom and Pompa”; Seiler Engineering, 1004 N. Atlantic; Hannes Financial Services Inc., 202 E. Trent; Cora and Ronald Haines; Glenn Traeger; Bob and Karen Muzzy, 1423 E. Woodcliff Road; Finer & Pugsley, P.S., 505 W. Riverside; and Dr. Denny Freuen and family, Northpointe Dental Arts, 9671 N. Nevada, “in memory of Andy Vawter’s wife, Kathy, so that others may experience the joy this season to all of us. She is sadly gone, but not forgotten.”
Judy Shelton and Jim Shelton Jr. donated $200 in memory of Jim Shelton, a talented former photographer with The Spokesman-Review, who was a friend to all he worked with.
Michael Crabb also gave $200, as did Bernice Haugen, 2910 N. Atlantic, in lieu of giving gifts to her nieces and nephews “to help those in need in the Spokane area”; and Marsh Advantage America, 601 W. Main, rather than sending corporate Christmas cards. Scott McGann, account executive, wrote that the company mailed calendars and a letter explaining the company’s gift to the fund in their honor.
Renee’ McCullough’s kindergarten class at Whitman Elementary filled “The Giving Jar” with a “whopping $96.95 in change,” which she matched. They also had “a little help from a couple angels,” kindergarten instructional assistant Bobbi Shier and her husband, Ray.
Three bands from the Coeur d’Alene and Rathdrum areas performed a concert Dec. 18 to raise money for the Christmas Fund. The concert - featuring Federation 7, Against All Odds and Overridden - at the Rathdrum Bible Church raised $168.50. Thanks to all of you.
Employees of Religious Science International in Spokane gave $160; there was an anonymous gift of $150. There was an anonymous donation made through Foundation Northwest, 421 W. Riverside, for $141.
April Meissner and her sixth-grade class at Deer Park Middle School contributed $125.21. For each dollar the students contributed, they received one minute of free time on the last day of school before the break.
“I see every day in my school the kids who I know will go without enough food or warm clothing at Christmas, and presents will be very slim under their trees (for those who even have one).” Meissner and her mom both matched the $35.07 that was collected in a week’s time. Part of the gift is “in memory of my two grandpas: Roger Schramm and Ell Meissner.”
Wilson Tool & Mfg., 10025 W. Montgomery, donated $125.
The students in Mrs. Jay’s and Mrs. Evans’ fifth-grade classes at Windsor Elementary in the Cheney School District collected $120 “for The Spokesman-Review’s Christmas-Wish Fund.”
The Early Learning Center Preschool at Whitworth Presbyterian Church, 312 W. Hawthorne Road, donated $110.