Community Thanks June 26, 2016

Art Benefit a huge success

What a great night June 4 was. We celebrated our first Art Benefit. A year ago a dear friend of mine, Jean Franke approached me with the idea to have an art benefit to help a local nonprofit organization. I jumped on this idea along with my mom, Sharon Mille.

Who should benefit was the first question. We chose Matt’s Place, a new 501c (3) foundation to assist individuals and their families during their fight with ALS. Matt Wild was diagnosed with ALS in February 2015. Lynne Wild, Matt’s mom sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2003, she was my dearest friend and soul-sister so the choice to help her son’s foundation was very personal and dear to me.

To find a venue that didn’t break the budget was very difficult. We shared this problem with nationally and internationally well-known wildlife artist Terry Lee. He stepped up to the plate and offered his studio at no cost to host the event. So the fun began. Terry asked many of his fellow master artists to donate their work. Many of the artists who donated their art are not “local” artists. They are if I may “famous” artists from around the country and some around the world. The years of schooling, hard work and thirst from within their souls that created these artists are undeniable not “local” artists. I have been around art my whole life, but many of you have not and like most things in life we need to be educated about the difference.

A colossal thank you to the artists who donated their talent, and money for this event: Terry Lee, Patsey Parsons, Lee Kromschroeder, Debora Seaver, Charleen Martin, Robert Krogle, Kyle Paliotto, Hulan Fleming, Diana Botkin, Stephen Shortridge, Diane Maslonka, Betty Billups, Stan Miller, Robert Walton, Cheryl Burchell, Sharon Mille, Cheryl Metcalf and Joe Kronenberg. From the private collection of Craig and Rose Tedmon, who donated paintings from Howard Friedland and Ned Muller. Clark and Grace Lusk who also donated two original oil paintings from their private collection. I would like to personally thank Barb Smalley, Heather Gray, Kerri Thorenson, Ryan Davis and all the board members and volunteers from Matt’s Place for their support and participation.

My goal was then to contact businesses and ask for the moon and hope to catch a star. Wow, did I catch a few stars. Robb and Amy Bloem, owners of Stancraft Boats in Hayden donated a $60,000 wooden boat to be auctioned off or used for another Matt’s Place fundraiser. Other star businesses and individuals that made this event a success are Super 1 Foods in Hayden, Eye Candy, Sparklers Salon, Nails by Holly, Peak Fitness, Toro Viejo in Hayden, Mountain West Bank-Hayden Branch, Heritage Bank-Everett Branch, US Bank (Rick Murray), Hippo Car Wash, Mad Bomber, Stir Cocktail Lounge, Vanhoff’s Garden Center, Judy’s Greenhouse, The Porch, Generations Assisted Living, Human Bean, Schmidty’s Burgers, Silverwood, Beamers Jet Boat tours, Genie Higbee, Jean Franke, Katie Brodie, Mike and Lisa Overby, Susan Engebretson, David and Cherie Bobbitt, Lake City Rental, Allegra Printing, Roger and Stephanie Saterfiel, Lynn Cramer, GoodDog, Prairie Animal, Hayden Animal, Town and Country Grooming, Longboard Coffee, Anthony’s, Flaherty’s Framing, and again Terry Lee who donated at no cost, his studio and two beautiful paintings at 100 percent proceeds to Matt’s Place.

Our goal for this event was to raise enough money to help erect the first ALS Smart Home in Kootenai County, to assist individuals and their families during their courageous battle with ALS; we proudly rose more than $17,000. The hope is to have this home completely equipped for the ALS individual and their family to live in independently without the worry of a mortgage or rent. When that family no longer needs the use of the home another family stricken with ALS will benefit living in the home. If you would like to help Matt’s Place foundation with land, money or your skills, please contact Mark Wild at www.mattsplacefoundation.com. Be a part of this exciting and new concept for our friends and neighbors struggling with ALS.

STEPHANIE SATERFIEL

Event Coordinator