Rotarians Generous In Mirabeau Support

It felt like Christmas recently this week when Spokane Valley Rotary bestowed Mirabeau Point a gift of $10,000, from proceeds raised during Rotary’s 1999 Festival of Trees fund-raiser.

Pat Humphries, president of Spokane Valley Rotary club, presented the donation to Mirabeau Point trustees at its Discovery Day luncheon Tuesday.

“Mirabeau Point is such a good community focal point; it gives the Valley an identity,” said Humphries by phone. “Rotary gave this (donation) to keep the Mirabeau project moving forward.”

Rotary awarded grants to other Mirabeau Point projects, including $1,000 to Spokane Valley YMCA, and $800 to the YMCA Valley Skate Park. This is in addition to an earlier $500 gift from Rotary for the state-of-the-art Skate Park slated to begin construction in Spring, 2001, according to Candice Uliano of Health Improvement Partnership.

The Spokane Valley Rotary club raised $24,000 at its holiday auction last December.

Proceeds will also help Valley nonprofit groups, including $2,500 to Valley Center; $1,000 to Valley Meals on Wheels; and $1,000 to Valley Hospital and Medical Center’s Hugs to Health program.

Rotary will also provide $6,000 in youth scholarships to Valley students.

“We thank everyone who helped with Festival of Trees,” said Humphries. “It takes everyone in the community to make it happen.”

Celebrity on parade

Waving from a sporty convertible, Joey Frost was in the Lilac Torchlight Parade last weekend in recognition of her new title as MS Mother of the Year.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Inland Northwest chapter bestows the annual award to a mother with multiple sclerosis who is exemplary in the priority she places on family. Chapter winners will compete for the national award.

Frost’s children and mother-in-law nominated her because of her active participation in family life despite battling an illness that leaves her with leg aches and chronic fatigue.

“I try to stay positive and don’t allow MS to hinder me,” said Frost, who works as volunteer coordinator for the Valley Hospital and Medical Center and Deaconess Medical Center.

Lilac Festival loves its volunteers

Speaking of lilacs, this delicate bloom has been the symbolic flower of the Spokane Lilac Festival Association’s Torchlight Parade, Junior Lilac Parade, and royalty court for 62 years.

Such community traditions are possible because of thousands of volunteer hours given by “regular folks” whose only reward is the satisfaction of giving back to the community where they live and work.

There are dozens of hard-working volunteers from the Spokane Valley who deserve recognition, said Tiffany Brickner Spear, of Liberty Lake, who was crowned Lilac Queen in 1992 and helped with this year’s events.

A few notables are Denny Nichols, SLFA president; Denny Kane, first vice president; Cathy Tunstall, treasurer; Bill Phipps and Bob Tallan, past presidents; and Evelyn Conant, a longtime supporter.

Volunteer of the Year

In 1994, Gib Brumback began rallying community support to build a new sports complex at Plantes Ferry Park.

Construction began in 1998. Today the community landmark boasts 13 soccer fields. Brumback’s efforts were applauded recently at a statewide meeting of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association, where he was named WSYSA Volunteer of the Year.

Brumback has served as soccer coach with the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association and continues to volunteer as project coordinator for the Sports Complex.

“Gib Brumback exemplifies what volunteerism and determination can accomplish in the community,” said David Barlos, president of the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association.