Continued from last week.
The walk down memory lane continues in part two of the history of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation’s wine tasting and auctions.
In 2000, the Healthcare Foundation’s goal was $20,000 for the 9th annual wine tasting and auction, with the money raised going toward remodeling and updating Odessa Memorial Hospital’s physical therapy department. Despite wheat selling for $2.38 a bushel, Odessa rose to the challenge, and the goal was met and surpassed. Event organizer Noreen Groh was quoted in The Odessa Record as saying, “It was like a dream come true, plus a lot more.” The year 2000 also marked the move from the Old Town Hall to the Community Center, a record crowd, more items than ever before at the auction and a new record for money raised, $26,500.
The 10th annual wine tasting and auction was featured in The Spokesman Review, where Leslie Kelly wrote, “Sipping wine, supping on appetizers and bidding on all sorts of gotta-have goodies has become a popular way to raise money for a variety of charities. Some of these events are more successful than others, but few have as an impressive track record as the annual fete in Odessa, Washington. For the past 10 years, the Odessa Healthcare Foundation has been pouring Northwest wines and auctioning some mighty tempting items during its annual salute to spring.” The 2001 wine tasting and auction set another record, this time raising over $29,000 toward the physical therapy department renovation. A thank you from the Foundation appeared in The Odessa Record, “Thank You Odessa! For the 10th consecutive year, working together, we have surpassed our goal. If you attended our event, made a monetary donation, donated or purchased an auction item, you contributed to better healthcare for our community. This year, your money will be carefully spent on our new physical therapy department.”
The headline in the April 25, 2002, Odessa Record declared “Top Items Await Bidders at the 11th Odessa Healthcare Auction.” The article went on to quote Noreen Groh, “If you have attended every event, if you have attended a few or most of them, if this is the first one you will miss, if you are a first timer, or if you contributed in any way please know we appreciate your efforts very much.” A profit of over $28,600 was again earmarked for the physical therapy department renovation and equipment. This year also marked the beginning of Clark Kagele’s role as master of ceremonies.
“Come Fly With Me in 2003” was the theme of the 12th annual wine tasting, auctions and microbrew samplings. This year featured for the first time, microbrew tasting from Odessa’s own Rocky Coulee Brewing Co. The Odessa Healthcare Foundation appreciated the support of Tom and Lynnie Schafer and their family that year and every year since. Over $27,000 was raised for a variety of projects at the Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center.
The 13th annual event, described as “perhaps Odessa’s top social happening of the year,” was held May 7, 2004. There were hundreds of items to bid on. “We will continue to provide items in all price ranges so everyone can participate and have a great time,” said Foundation board member Noreen Groh. This year a new record was set as over $30,000 was netted for the hospital bed project.
“Catch That Small Town Feeling” was exactly what more than 150 guests did May 6, 2005, at the 14th annual wine tasting, auctions, and microbrew sampling. More than $27,000 was raised for the second year of the new hospital bed project. Former Odessa pharmacist Marsh Roberts recalls, “I remember when we purchased hospital beds from Hawaii. They were used, and I think we had to pay $100 apiece for them and they delivered them. That item alone saved the hospital district a bunch of money, as they really were in great shape. Dr. John Condon, DDS, put us on to them.”
The 15th annual event was held May 5, 2006, and the auctioneer for the evening was Odessa’s own Jeff Stehr. Over $33,000 was raised to help purchase updated equipment for Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center’s X-ray department.
May 4, 2007 marked the Foundation’s 16th annual wine tasting and auction. That night a crowd of 235 guests bid on 177 silent auction items as well as 33 live auction items, all generously donated by local and surrounding area individuals and businesses. More than $39,000 was raised and earmarked for year two of fundraising for equipment in the X-ray department.
The 17th annual event on May 2, 2008, saw another banner year, raising over $40,000 to be used to help build a new shed for storing the hospital’s shuttle van. A new feature added that year was a section called “Live on the Side,” where the silent bidding on these items remained open throughout the evening, unlike the other silent auction sections that had staggered closing times.
To be continued…
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