Brave Heart Bowls
Dear Editor: Wow Sitka! Your generosity never ceases to amaze. The Brave Heart Volunteer Bowl Event this year is another fine example of the outpouring of sponsorship and donated hours of creativity by the many volunteers who give their time and talents to put this event together.
Our generous sponsors the Hames Corporation, Venneburg Insurance, Silver Bay Seafoods and Stedman Insurance, allowed us to keep our overhead to a minimum for this event. This translates to many more hours of support free of charge to those who are isolated, caregiving loved ones, at end of life, in need of grief support, or other related resources.
As with any big event it takes a village to pull it together. Our local potters and artisans have given their time, talent and resources for many, many years to turn out beautiful bowls that Sitkans come en masse to check-out and purchase. A heartfelt thank you to: Amy Blair, Auriella Hughes, Chris Gale, David Lass, Dean Anderson, Dee Corbell, Kailee Cunningham, Kari Laughier, Kathleen McCrossan, Liz Zacher, Matt Fiske, Michele Friedman, Nancy Knapp, Ritch Phillips, Robert Rose, Sandra LaCore, Tom Brown, Tom Crane and Trenton Capp. Also a big thank you to UAS and Liz Zacher for your ongoing yearly sponsorship of studio space and resources.
What’s a bowl without something yummy and sustaining to put into it? A huge thank you to our soup cooks: Fredi Young, Greta Ryan, Max and Bonnie Cottrell, John Murray, Bronwyn Walton, Catherine Rogers, Deb Smith, Steve Lawrie and Susan Padilla, Jeren Schmidt and Julia Smith. Thank you to bread and dessert bakers Steve Warren and Michele Friedman, Davey Lubin, Jill Kisaka, Julie Keating Platson, Marg Ann Parsons, Mary Beth Hunn, Phyllis Hacket, Sherie Mayo and Ruth Culp.
Our popular live auction Chair-ity was back again this year. Seven local and gifted artists gave their time and talent to create works of unique art out of used furniture. An awed and humble thank you to: Cara Murray, DJ Robidou, Kailee Cunningham, Kija Elstad, Kim Elliot, Kristina Cranston and Tommy Joseph, and Lois Verbaan. In addition we had a fully decorated one of a kind Christmas Tree with handmade ornaments from Michele Putz that captured a lot of interest. Outstanding Michele.
In addition to the live auction, we had works of wonder for our silent auction. Many thanks to: Auriella Hughes, Robert Rose, Elizabeth Faulkner, Christie Jones, Jim Kirkness, Ron McClain, Norm Campbell, Sandy Lackore, Deb Sellers, Cheryl Smith, Trenton Capp, Dee Corbell, Michele Friedman, Ritch Phillips, Phyllis Hackett, Pat Kehoe, Roberta White, Amy Sweeney, Doug Dabrowski, Melissa Harrison, Dan Kilkeary, Janet Berlin and Jerry Wright for donating beautiful jewelry, paintings, photography and pottery.
A big thanks to Rob Woolsey our auctioneer who added presence, voice and humor to the evening and to the Sitka Blues Band, Gary Gouker, Fred Knowles, Ritch Phillips and Auriella Hughes for providing that Bluesy beat we all love to listen and move to. Thank you Bobbie Jordan for showing up and capturing the evening in pictures.
Lots of helping hands are always needed the day of and during Bowls. A special thanks to our Brave Heart Board, staff and volunteers, the National Honor Society students from Mt. Edgecumbe and SHS, AmeriCorps, and Winter Fellows who step up for this event to help set-up, cashier, serve soup, bus tables, wash dishes and floors, and tear down.
Finally, a recognition and thank you to all the Sitkans who came out to attend our event and support Brave Heart Volunteers mission to provide compassionate caregiving, companionship, respite and education to those facing illness, isolation, end-of-life, and grief. If you, a family member, friend or neighbor could benefit from our services or would like to become a volunteer please call our office at 747-4600 or drop by the Pioneer Home Managers House and talk with our Director Maury Hackett, our winter fellow Anna Roy or our office volunteer/board member Ruth Culp. You can also visit our website at www.braveheartvolunteers.org.
We are truly appreciative of all the amazing support we receive throughout the year and to put on this yearly fundraiser. Thank you fellow Sitkans.
The Brave Heart Board:
Cheri Hample, Michele Friedman
Kathy Kyle, Ruth Culp
Sherie Mayo, Auriella Hughes
Shauna Thornton,
Dr. Debra Pohlman, Emily Rivas
Samuel Pointer, Blossom Twitchell
