Mayors dash for cash at Start Strong Breakfast
<p>Hayden Mayor Steve Griffits scrambles to snag cash in a money wind machine on Thursday at a kick-off event for Idaho Gives. Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, Hayden Mayor Ron Jacobson and Dalton Gardens Mayor Steve Roberge participated in the money machine in hopes of grabbing the most cash. Mayor Widmyer emerged with the most, and chose the nonprofit Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center as the charity Idaho Central Credit Union would make a donation to.</p>
<p>From left to right, Dalton Gardens Mayor Steve Roberge, Coeur d'Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts and Hayden Mayor Ron Jacobson cheer after all four took turns snagging cash in a money machine on Thursday at a kick-off event for Idaho Gives. Mayor Widmyer emerged with the most, and chose the nonprofit Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center as the charity Idaho Central Credit Union would make a donation to.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — Thursday morning began with some mad dash cash action as four local mayors competed to collect money for the nonprofit of their choice during the Idaho Gives Start Strong Breakfast.
In a spirit of friendly competition, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer, Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts, Dalton Gardens Mayor Steve Roberge and Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson took turns scrambling to collect as many bills as possible in an inflatable cash machine, provided by Idaho Central Credit Union.
After a 25-second bill-grabbing frenzy, Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer emerged the winner with $420. He announced to the nearly 80 people and various nonprofits in attendance that the funds would go to Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center, an organization dedicated to helping survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
"There are so many great causes and the awareness for Safe Passage is relatively new, so I felt just very humbled," Safe Passage executive director Katie Coker said. "This community is full of people who are just great sports that are willing to do something that puts them in a little bit of a vulnerable position to do good in the community."
The Idaho Nonprofit Center’s Idaho Gives giving blitz swept the state for one day only. It served as an opportunity for people to learn about Idaho's different nonprofits and contribute to their causes.
"I am so encouraged by the amount of support and the show of collaboration between the nonprofits to make this event a success," said Ann Johnson, an Idaho Nonprofit Center board member and executive director of the Village at Orchard Ridge, where the Start Strong breakfast was held. "It’s just encouraging to see the turnout that we received."
Idaho Gives celebrated the diversities of Idaho’s nonprofits while showcasing and promoting the work they do. North Idaho nonprofits that registered for the Idaho Gives event included the Kootenai Humane Society, North Idaho Family Group, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene Public Library Foundation, Boy Scouts of America, Children's Village, North Idaho High School Aerospace Program, Inc. and more.
"I just want to thank all of the nonprofits that do such a tremendous job to help our community,” Widmyer said. “Without you, we would not be the community that we are.”