West River Health Services Foundation (WRHHSF), the non-profit fundraising and development organization for West River Health Services (WRHS) and Western Horizons Living Centers (WHLC), switched their location and theme for their Annual Spring FUNdraiser to raise funds for needed healthcare equipment. And did it ever pay dividends!
Over the last three years the WRHS Foundation has witnessed spectacular fundraising for their new MRI Scanner, renovations to the Care Center, Partners In Health Club and Scholarships, where 150 people annually attended their “Adult Prom” events at Suzie’s Woodfire Grill. After surveying employees about potential themes, it was decided we should be more inclusive of everyone and maybe a little less formal. We arrived at our “Spring Mardi Gras” theme and figured it would also require a larger venue; hence the location change to the more spacious Hettinger Armory.
The new location at the Hettinger Armory allowed for a HUGE crowd this past Saturday night, April 21st, with estimates of over 250 people attending the first-ever WRHS Spring Mardi Gras FUNdraiser. It also created quite the arena for a larger than life paddleboat, New Orleans style Buildings, Jazz instrumentalists, and a super gigantic Unicorn Floatee! There was also room for a full-service bar, food court, and dance floor – all decorated in New Orleans colors and style.
When the doors opened at 6:00pm, there was everything from southern appetizers (Bourbon Street chicken sliders, gumbo, jumbalaya dip, and bread pudding) from Kennedy’s Fresh Foods to a full bar via the Pastime, with specialty drinks including Hurricanes and Margaritas! Janel Johnson shot portrait photographs in front of the huge paddleboat and also had a super-fun photo booth for everyone to enjoy with their friends. Nolan Dix and Terry Spratta, local DJ’s for their traveling music and light show called Hot Trax, kept the place lively with their southern jazz and classic rock, which people seemed to enjoy dancing to until the wee morning hours.
Originally there were 18 tables for ten set up in the Armory gymnasium. As the crowd entered and multiplied quickly, five more tables and 50 more chairs were added to the dance floor area. Due to the increased tables and chairs and added auction items, the Mardi Gras Parade was postponed. Some people were still standing when the Live Auction got under way. And get under way did it ever! After a few words of encouragement from Foundation Director, Ted Uecker and WRHS/WHLC CEO, Matt Shahan, local auctioneer Mark Zimmerman put the hammer down and glided smoothly through 33 unique Live Auction items. Mike Johnson, Jay Ohm and Kane Melling were kept busy taking bids non-stop for an hour straight! After the Live Auction, deli sandwiches were rolled out by Kennedy’s.
By the close of the evening, over 310 tickets had been sold! And over 250 people entered the arena. During the Live Auction portion of the event, $23,980 gross was acquired from 33 Live Auction items. Throughout the night, from 6:00-10:30pm, the 67 Silent Auction items were being perused and bid on regularly. At the end of the Silent Auction, $9,505 gross was accumulated! WOW! That’s $33,485 gross among the grand total of 100 Live and Silent Auction items. Add in the $2,500 matching funds from local National Mutual Benefit Branch #81, a $1,000 gift from a WHCC employee, and over $8,500 in ticket sales, we grossed over $45,000 for this first-ever Mardi Gras event!
WOW! THANK YOU Hettinger Area supporters of needed equipment at your top-notch, TOP 20 Regional Medical Center. We are still in the process of receiving our bills for the music, food, advertising and decorations. We believe we ended up with roughly $35,000 to place toward needed equipment for WRHS and WHLC.
Special THANKS to Corie/Terry Lien, Brad/Tenille Guthrie, Erin and Callie Timm, Sheri Uecker and Dawson DeFoe for helping us move all the prom decorations from the HHS gym to the Armory. And thanks to Corie/Terry/Megan/Beth Lien; Sheri Uecker, Kim Schalesky, Amanda Reimer, Cindy Ham, Patty Ness, Tera Fried, Mary Krein, Linda Nudell, Tony Muggerud, Kane Melling, Alissa Fitch, Christi Schmitz, and the guys at AgPro and RZ’s, for helping us set up all of the decorations. That was work!
THANK YOU Talia Dustman and Kim Schalesky for registering everyone at the door, tabulating the live and silent auction items, and closing out all of the generous bidders. That was a long night trying to register over 250 attendees, entering 100 live and silent auction winning bids into the computer and then closing out every bidder.
And THANK YOU to the cleanup crew – Sheri Uecker, Kane Melling, Alissa Fitch, Dr. Bleaux and Janel Johnson, Cindy Ham, Jay Ohm, Patty Ness, Barb West – thank goodness it came down a lot faster than it went up!
Lastly, thank you to our area community citizens for supporting our amazing local healthcare system. Without your buying of tickets, sharing of resources and participating in our live and silent auction, we would have nothing to show for our efforts. We hope you enjoyed your evening of Mardi Gras. We look forward to improving our effort next year. Onward!
Below are the list of Live and Silent Auction items, donors and winning bidders:
LIVE AUCTION ITEM DONOR WINNING BIDDER
Ed Sheeran Concert Ted/Sheri Uecker Jodi Uecker
Carson Wentz Table WRHS Foundation Tony Muggerud
Golden Key – Camper AgPro Motors Jodi Uecker
Golden Key – Boat AgPro Motors Corie/Terry Lien
Golden Key – Side by Side AgPro Motors Ted/Sheri Uecker
Platinum Key – Truck RZ Motors Alan/Erin Timm, Ted/Sheri Uecker
Platinum Key – SUV RZ Motors Jackie/Dave Muggerud
Platinum Key – Car RZ Motors Grace/Magnus Meier
Medora Package Chuck/Kerry Christman Liz Hallen
Hickory Table WRHS Foundation Tom/Cindy Arndorfer
UND Hockey Trip Dr. Cathy Houle/T. Shirek Dr. Cathy Houle/T. Shirek
MN Twins Trip KNDC Jodi/Wayne Wilson
Half Lamb Schauer Sheep Co. DeNae/Terry Henderson
Quarter Beef Uecker Yards Mike/Sandy Marion
Pheasant Hickory Table WRHS Foundation Teresa/Stuart Nielsen
Half Hog Anthony & Jodi Larson Jezelle/Paul Salazar
Miami Beach Package WRHS Foundation Tony Muggerud
Audrie’s B&B Package Amie/B./T./DeNae Henderson Carol Fordahl
Fitted Mizuno Golf Irons Jeremy Galbreth/HCC Matt/Katie Shahan
Framed Photography Reflections Studio D. Timm/G. Schmitz/C. Parnow
Two Tickets NDSU FB Game Gary/Debbie Dewhirst Dr. Carrie/Dr. Josh Ranum
Gorgeous Quilt Elish/Dave Nash Tony Muggerud
Ten Pounds Crab Kennedy’s Fresh Foods Chris/Tricia Parnow
Exquisite Bench WRHS Foundation Jonathon/Ria Eaton
Weber Propane Grill Runnings of Hettinger Kyle/Stephanie Kennedy
WRHS Last 2007 Cookbook Paulette Haar McKenzie/Austin Federson
Yellow Lab Puppy Chris/Tricia Parnow Dr. Cathy Houle/T. Shirek
Disney World Trip WRHS Foundation Ted/Sheri Uecker
Guided Goose Hunt Alex Thompson/Ben Geaumont Wade/Dr. Lisa Henderson
Chest Freezer Lodgepole Store Dana/Eric Andress
Huge Unicorn Floatee T2 Honey Co. Jada/Chris Hofland
Steak Dinner for 4 Shahan’s/Doc Andress’ Jada/Chris Hofland
Steak Dinner for 4 Shahan’s/Doc Andress’ Jonathon/Ria Eaton
Buffalo Meat McFarland Ranch Mike/Lisa Clayton
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS DONOR WINNING BIDDER
Team USA Winter Basket WRHS Foundation Jodi/Wayne Wilson
Bull Riding Floatee Uecker Yards Thane/Faye Schalesky
Angus Cow Seat Covers Ted/Sheri Uecker Tressie/Brian Ellingson
Lunch for 4 in Kathleen’s Garden Kathleen/Kent Brackel Jan/Dennis Bentsen
Bad Monday Recovery Kit Amanda Reimer Dana/Eric Andress
Pizza Making Basket D. Christman, P. Andress Alissa Fitch/Kane Melling
Kitchen Utensils Basket WRHS Bowman Clinic Cindy/Ken Vik
Everything’s Lemon WRHS Lemmon Clinic Anna Sherlock
Camping Basket WRHS Ambulance Brenda/Ron Dragoo
Exquisite Wooden Bowl Duey/Char Marthaller Randy/Della Christensen
Tap Beer Cooling System WRHS Foundation Garret/Christi Schmitz
200 Amp Battery Charger West Plains Inc. Dr. Mark/Lanae Kristy
Kid’s Beach Gift Set WRHS Administration Tera/Mike Fried
Photograph Artwork WRHS Laboratory/O. Reyes Mary Krein
Photograph Artwork WRHS Laboratory/O. Reyes Tera/Mike Fried
Photograph Artwork WRHS Laboratory/O. Reyes Mary Krein
Photograph Artwork WRHS Laboratory/O. Reyes Tera/Mike Fried
Pearl Jewelry Set WRHS Radiology/Dr. Kristy W. Henderson/A.Thompson
Men’s Jewelry Set WRHS Radiology/Dr. Kristy Randy/Connie Burwick
5 Piece Luggage Set WRHS Foundation Eve/Dr. Don Safratowich
5 Piece Luggage Set WRHS Foundation Denise/Dr. Ethan Andress
Tequila/Margarita Basket Southwest Healthcare John/Jennifer Rickertson
1920’s Vintage Ring Anna Sherlock Kim/Theron Schalesky
Variety Basket White Drug Pharmacy Roxy/Steve McFarland
One Year Subscription Country Media Patty/Troy Ness
Pheasant Wood Art Tom Selzler Ryan/Nicole Sott
Photo Shoot, Free 8 x 10 Janel Johnson Photography Jonathon/Ria Eaton
Half Lamb Schauer Sheep Co, Denise/Dr. Ethan Andress
Team USA Variety Basket WRHS Foundation Katie/Matt Shahan
Half Hog Anthony & Jodi Larson Holly/Richard Wyman
ND Cribbage Board Ted/Sheri Uecker Jodi/Wayne Wilson
NDSU Champions Wine Jody & Shane Timm Dakota Community Bank
Red Lamp KB Jewelers Diane/Wayne Henderson
Ten Pounds Crab Kennedy’s Fresh Foods Eric/Dana Andress
Gardening Basket National Mutual Benefit Jada/Chris Hofland
One year Subscription Country Media Stephanie/Kyle Kennedy
Buffalo Meat McFarland Ranch Matt/Katie Shahan
Gorgeous Quilt Lutheran Church Quilters Diane/Wayne Henderson
Four Tickets ND Country Fest 102.3 FM Then Range LeAnna Holdsclaw
Three Quilts Karen Clement Samantha Johnson
Two Afghans Karen Clement Roxy/Steve McFarland
Garmin VivoFit Watch Ted/Sheri Uecker Mary Krein
Two Person Boat w/oars WRHS Foundation Wade/Dr. Lisa Henderson
Four Prairie Chickens Elizabeth & Taylor Morical Roxy/Steve McFarland
Two Quikfill Chairs Ted/Sheri Uecker Shanda/Dusty Laufer
Star Wars DVD Andy Roehl; Video Services Denise/Dr. Ethan Andress
John Deere Kid’s Quilt Cindy Olson Francie Berg
Jewelry & Ladies Shirt/Cardigan Jewels of the West Janna/Chris Kincheloe
Embroidered Hat, Towel, Apron Holly Wyman DeNae/Terry Henderson
Gift Certificate & Variety Basket The Tilted Tulip Bekki/Rick Holzkamm
Flower Arrangement The Flower Box Teri/Cole Ehlers
MojiLife Air Fresheners Stacey Barnes Alissa Fitch/Kane Melling
Dry Cleaning Gift Certificate Carmel’s Cleaners Dr. Carrie/Josh Ranum
Decadent Chandelier Let There Be Marketplace Garret/Christi Schmitz
Two, One-Hour Massages Sharon Silkman Massage Barb/Terry West
Baby Unicorn Floatee T2 Honey Co. Charley/Jane Reisenauer
Inger’s Creation Basket Let There Be Marketplace Cindy/Ken Vik
Steel Welcome Sign/Key Holder Scranton FFA Dakota Community Bank
Mother’s Day Basket Pastime Bar & Steakhouse Anna Sherlock
Flower Arrangement Prairie Rose Floral Sarah/Seth Skogen
New Printer WRHS IS Department Tom/Cindy Arndorfer
Lantern w/Flowers Prairie Rose Floral Francie Seamands
Pheasant Earings Wheeler’s Manufacturing Janet Schauer
Movie Night Basket Lemmon Theater Lisa/Mike Clayton
Rug Cleaning Gift Certificate H & H Cleaners Byrdee/John Butterfield
Lottery Basket National Mutual Benefit Randy/Della Christensen
By Ted Uecker, WRHS Foundation
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