Anonymous in Athol steps up to plate

Anonymous in Athol loves his family. He adores his wife and his dogs. He loves baseball. He loves North Idaho, too.

But there’s something else near and dear to Press Christmas for All’s most bountiful benefactor: A challenge.

Are you ready for this?

After remaining silent through the first three and a half weeks of the campaign, Anonymous in Athol — A in A, we call him — contacted this humble scribe on Tuesday morning. He noted that the campaign is going extremely well compared to 2017. And he graciously pledged $10,000 on the spot. But he wasn’t done.

“Tell you what,” he said. “You let your readers know that we need to blow away that goal of $175,000.”

Did you pick up on that “we” in there?

A in A then unleashed his challenge: Ladies and gentlemen, if “we” can raise more than $190,000 by Saturday, A in A will toss another $10,000 log on the fire.

Now, think of all the young Kootenai County hearts that could be warmed with a $200,000-plus Press Christmas for All fundraising blaze.

Anonymous in Athol is the most generous donor in the 33-year history of the program. Something else he loves? Not taking credit for a bit of it.

He’d really like to double his $10,000 contribution, so let’s make him happy, shall we?

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Also Tuesday, another of our community’s treasures dropped by The Press with his annual donation. Marshall Mend is a rarity: He has donated every single one of those 33 years.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, friend!

•••

Kindness abounds — especially with people like Joni and August Mack among us. Here’s a note we just received with a generous gift from them:

Christmas for All has always been one of my favorite charities to donate to. We regret that we are not able to donate as much as we have in the past 15 years or so … but hope that someone less fortunate will benefit.

Thank you to all the volunteers who make Christmas for All happen.