Editor:
Although it has been more than six weeks since the Trees for Scholars event sponsored by the Sweet Home Alumni Foundation, I thought it might be appropriate to let you know how the event did.
Thanks to the generosity of the board members and merchants as well as other individuals who donated more than 60 items for the silent auction as well as the 16 trees that were decorated and sold (also donated by families and businesses), we were able to raise more than $12,000 to go to our general fund for the purpose of providing future scholarships.
Thanks should also be given to Key Bank and LinnCo Credit Union for displaying and selling raffle tickets on two additional trees. The auctioneer services were also donated by Jeremy Powell, which resulted in a great savings to the foundation.
Planning is already underway for next year’s event, which is one of the major fund-raising events for our foundation. Our goal remains both lofty and simple. If you graduate from Sweet Home High School and want to further your education, we want to help. We are hoping to meet with the senior class this year to ensure they know of our organization and what they need to do to take advantage of scholarships that are available.
There are so many people to thank that I know I would miss someone if I tried to list them all. Please be sure that all efforts were greatly appreciated. If someone from our group didn’t make it to your door or business to solicit your help this past year, next year, we may be doing some arm twisting as our event nears in 2007.
Dave Holley
Sweet Home