Hospice Wine Taste raises more than $100K

Hospice of North Idaho's 30th annual Hospice Wine Taste and Auction on Saturday at the Hayden Lake Country Club raised more than $100,000 for the nonprofit.

"It was a spectacular evening," said Hospice of North Idaho Executive Director Kim Ransier. "People were in great spirits and opened their hearts and wallets to your community-owned hospice, Hospice of North Idaho."

Proceeds of the event will go directly toward patient care for those lacking the ability to pay for hospice services, by deferring the cost of medications, medical equipment, stays at the Hospice House, and visits with physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and grief counselors. Hospice of North Idaho is the area's only local nonprofit hospice.

The organization is supported by the community through events like the Wine Taste, so it can continue to carry out its mission of providing hospice care to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

The fine wines available for tasting and food were donated by catering sponsors: the Coeur d'Alene Casino, Pastry and More, North Star Retirement, Uva Trattoria, Mangia catering co., Seasons of Coeur d'Alene, The Cellar and Hospice House.

Gold sponsors of the event included Young Construction, Mountain West Bank, the dinner party, Thorco, Inc., The Hayden Lake Country Club, the Coeur d'Alene Press and The Frame of Mind Gallery which was honored with a "Distinguished Sponsor" award during the program.

"The late Shane Berger of The Frame of Mind Galleries was one of the founding members of the Wine Taste Committee, and the gallery has been a huge supporter over the years," said Brenda Wild, Wine Taste committee chair and former Hospice of North Idaho board member.

One of the highlights of the auction was the Paddle Raise, where supporters gave more than $15,000 toward the purchase of a desperately needed delivery van for the Hospice Thrift Stores. Other highlights of the evening included the drawing of the grand prize raffle - a seven-day trip to Northern California wine country for two people - which was sponsored by the Hospice of North Idaho board of directors.

More than 200 donors contributed items to the silent and live auctions, and many volunteered their time to put together the event. Other sponsors of the event included Elite Silver sponsors, Kootenai Imaging and Northwest Realty Group; and Silver Sponsors, Specialty Tree, Bellevue Healthcare, Parker Toyota, The Medicine Man Pharmacy, Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, Contractors Northwest, Northwest Specialty Hospital, Cancer Care Northwest and Beck Cabinet Company. Bronze Sponsors were The Village at Orchard Ridge, Avista and Morgan Stanley.