Donors meet fundraising goal for the 2018 Christmas Fund

The Spokesman-Review Christmas Fund has made its goal for the 14th year in a row, thanks to a last-minute surge in generosity from people in Spokane and the surrounding area.

Donations of $22,494 have come in since Christmas Day, bringing the total raised to $543,863.56. The goal was $525,000. The money has been distributed to Catholic Charities and the Volunteers of America, who collaborate every year to put on the Christmas Bureau for needy residents.

This was truly a year when every donation counted, whether it was a $35,000 donation from Travis Pattern and Foundry or the donors who slipped a single dollar bill into the donation drop box in The Spokesman-Review’s lobby.

The donations didn’t just come from Spokane. They came from Spokane Valley, Hayden, Cheney, Deer Park, Coeur d’Alene, Mead, Chattaroy, Liberty Lake, Nine Mile Falls and Greenacres. Far-flung donors sent money from Hawaii, Arizona and Massachusetts.

The money came from businesses, high school classrooms, clubs and unions. Children gave their allowance, while grandparents sent in donations in honor of their grandchildren.

Thanks to your donations, 16,451 children woke up on Christmas morning with a present to unwrap and a new book to read and 8,561 households had a food voucher to use to get something extra for the dinner table.

Thanks for coming together to brighten Christmas for so many, Spokane. We’ll see you again in November and do it all again.

Donations

Walker Construction in Spokane gave $3,000. Jeff and Kae Johnson, of Spokane, donated $2,500 via PayPal.

James Millard Sr., of Deer Park, donated $1,000 “for my grandchildren that I never get to see!” he wrote. “Thank you to all your volunteers and helpers for their sharing. From a 20-year Air Force veteran.” David Ulmen, of Spokane, gave $1,000 via PayPal.

Judy McKeehan, of Cheney, gave $1,000. “This donation is from Vivian Duvall, Mary Kate Hart and Luce Ann Hart, my granddaughters, to help make someone else’s Christmas a little warmer,” she wrote. Vickerman and Driscoll donated $1,000.

An anonymous Spokane donor sent $1,000, writing “The Bureau fills an essential need in this community enabling recipients, especially the children of all ages, to have an enjoyable Christmas when their personal circumstances might make that impossible.”

Richard and Mary Conley donated $505 via PayPal. Charm Stanek, of Spokane, sent $500. Randall Benson, of Spokane, gave $500 via PayPal. The Wolff family, of Spokane, contributed $500 in loving memory of Dean Wolff. John and Sharon Cannon, of Spokane, gave $500. The G. Stanley and Joan G. Fergin Fund, managed by the Innovia Foundation, gave $500.

An anonymous Spokane donor sent $400 in honor of Dr. LeRoy J. Byrd “who worked the Christmas bureau many years. Thank you for the wonderful service you give to those families in our community.”

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $375. Michael Hansen gave $300, as did R. and T. Mazzie. Craig Gruenig, of Spokane, contributed $300.

Thomas Morrow sent $250. Bruce Howard, of Spokane, gave $250 via PayPal. Leonard and Laura Bowman, of Spokane, donated $250, as did Donald Gale Jr., of Spokane. Paula and Norris Brown, of Veradale, donated $250. An anonymous donor sent $250.

Eleanor Hasner gave $200. An anonymous Spokane donor contributed $200. Brennan Pendleton, Les Whitbeck, of Liberty Lake, Mark Aspinwall, of Spokane, and Kenneth Pilcher each donated $200 via PayPal. Cheryl and Milo Hughes, of Moses Lake, sent $200.

Amy Flowers, of Kirkland, Washington, sent $200 via PayPal. “Merry Christmas!” she wrote. “I love Spokane and the dedication of the community to serve others. This is in memory of my grandmothers, Belva Flowers and Loraine Bahr. They are missed.”

Lynn Samuels, of Spokane, gave $200 in memory of Marion R. Samuels. An anonymous Cheney donor contributed $200, writing “Thank you for all you do for our community.”

Charles and Janet Watkins, of Newport, Washington, donated $150. Colleen Striegel donated $150 via PayPal. Ted and Winnie Allen, of Spokane, sent $125.

An anonymous Spokane donor gave $100, writing “Thank you for all you do!” Larry Steinmetz and Eleanor Riley, of Spokane, sent $100, as did Sally Geyer, of Spokane. Chris Harris, Maria Newcomb and Deborah Seagle each gave $100. An anonymous Spokane donor contributed $100.

Brian Seppi, of Spokane, Megan Steinhilber, of Spokane, Catherine Dixon, of Spokane Valley, and Joanie Hathaway each gave $100 via PayPal. Clifford and Judie Hoekema donated $100. “This is being sent in honor of our four children, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren so that other families can enjoy a Christmas like we’ve always been privileged to have,” they wrote.

Scott Carlson gave $100 via PayPal. “Thank you for providing to our community,” he wrote. “Merry Christmas.” William and Cynthia Jonz, of Liberty Lake, donated $100. Joe and Charri Doeleman, of Spokane, donated $100. “Charri and I are again very pleased to be able to support this very worthy cause,” he wrote. “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!”

Sandra Benedetti, of Spokane, gave $100. “Thank you to all the volunteers, the Spokesman-Review owners, editors, managers and employees and in-kind donors for your amazing support of those in need – a significant part of Spokane area holidays,” she wrote. “My donation is in honor of my sisters Vickie and Terry, who asked ‘No gifts to us this year’ and in memory of my dad, who used to work for the Spokesman.”

An anonymous Medical Lake donor gave $100 in memory of parents Elmer and Irma and brothers John and Andy. Marilyn Walli, of Spokane, contributed $100. Dale West, of Deer Park, Patrick and Laurie Thiel, of Spokane Valley, Margaret and Keith Leslie, of Spokane, Sue and Allen Hoover, of Spokane, and Betty Hatch, of Cheney, each donated $100. An anonymous Spokane Valley donor gave $100.

Candace Murray, of Spokane Valley, donated $100. Betty Frost, of Spokane, and her daughters Nancy and Patti gave $100 in memory of her husband, Jack E. Frost Sr., and her son, Jack E. Frost Jr.

Ronald Ortiz sent $75 via PayPal.

Lorrie Goodrich contributed $50, as did Miles Breneman, of Spokane. Phyllis Hanson, of Spokane, sent $50. Nathan Rutscher, of Maplewood, Minnesota, and Cathleen Walter each gave $50 via PayPal. Pat and Darlene Reilly, of Spokane Valley, donated $50. Joe and Mary Ann Busch, of Spokane, gave $50. Sharon Larson, of Spokane, contributed $50.

Rebecca and Larry Walls, of Spokane Valley, donated $50. An anonymous donor sent $50. Rodney and Donna Fleming, of Spokane Valley, gave $50, writing “I don’t have grandchildren yet but would like to contribute to those children in need who have wonderful grandparents who have stepped up to raise theirs during these tough times.”

Curt Puckett donated $30. Lynn Burkett, John Stifter and Karl Otterstrom each gave $25 via PayPal. An anonymous donor gave $25 via PayPal. Rosie Castillo, of Coeur d’Alene, sent $20.

Benny Eubanks, age 6, and Elliott Eubanks, age 8, gave $10 from their allowance. An anonymous donor gave $4.

For donations made through PayPal, The Spokesman-Review contributed the processing fee.