In the spirit of the annual Community Benefit Dinner here, the family of the late Amanda Jerry gave back more than $23,000 from her trust fund for several community causes.
“On the way to Fort Frances for this event, we were talking about what to do with this money,” Jerry’s sister, Jennifer Zappitelli, said in a heartfelt speech during Sunday’s dinner at La Place Rendez-Vous.
“We wanted to give it back to the community but didn’t exactly know where to it should go,” she added.
Zappitelli announced the funds would go to several groups, including $5,700 for the Fort Frances Lions Club to start a project in the Millennium Park on Second Street East in honour of Jerry.
Club member Arleigh Mallory accepted the cheque.
Another $8,000 was given to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s “Care Close to Home” campaign, accepted by Jim Krag, with $10,000 handed to the benefit dinner committee, accepted by Luke Schill.
Jerry, who passed away last June following complications from a double-lung transplant in Toronto, had been the recipient of much community support and assistance during her battle with severe emphysema.
“From our hearts, I’d like to thank you. Everything that’s been done for any of these families will never be forgotten,” Zappitelli added. “I’d also like, for when you go home tonight, to take a good look at what being part of this can do.”
George Blanc, a member of the Knights of Columbus #2766, who once again co-sponsored the dinner with the local Lions Club and La Place Rendez-Vous, told those on hand the decision stemmed from a discussion last week with Jerry’s parents, Fred and Carol Brown.
“They could not say enough good things about the community that supported them,” said Blanc.
In addition to the $10,000 from Jerry’s family, this year’s dinner raised another $15,000 through ticket sales (roughly 270) and the silent and live auctions, noted Blanc.
The annual “Spirit of Christmas” fundraiser, held each November by the local Canadian Cancer Society unit, also donated half the proceeds from its silent auction.
“We originally hoped for $15,000 and we reached it–about $1,500 more than last year,” he said. “Indications show its growing.”
Blanc also noted there was a change in format to the dinner this year. Instead of being earmarked for a specific recipient(s), the money will go into a fund controlled by a benefit dinner committee to be divvy up as the need arises on a case-by-case basis.
That committee consists of Linda Blanc, Linda Hamilton, and Elsie Cameron.
But behind any fundraising has to be community spirit, noted Blanc, adding, “I think everybody was up on the whole function.”
Among the many who echoed this sentiment were Gerry Parent, father of local cancer survivor Alex Parent, who spoke on the importance of financial support when a family member gets seriously ill.
The Parent family was benefitted not by the annual dinner but by a number of other fundraisers here several years ago when young Alex was diagnosed with bone cancer in 1994.
“We are privileged to have a great community that truly cares,” Gerry Parent remarked after he spoke of how his 11-year-old son, despite sporting a prosthetic leg, is as active with sports like swimming as any other boy his age.
He’s been cancer-free for five years.
Those attending the dinner agreed.
“It’s a very good cause. And it’s a lot of fun,” noted Sandra McKinnon. “And last year, one of my nephews, Michael Pihulak-Sovereign, was the recipient of some of the funds raised.
“This really brings a lot of the community together,” she added.
Pihulak-Sovereign attended the dinner Sunday night–but as a survivor of the cancer he was fighting this time last year. After extensive treatment for Ewing sarcoma since 1999, his latest tests results have shown no sign of the disease.
“This dinner is really great. It helps families that might need help getting enough money to handle a medical emergency,” he remarked.
“But it’s not just about money. It raises people’s spirits, too, seeing the community come together like this,” he added.
“The event is something that can benefit children. And we like to part of anything that benefits children,” noted Caren Fagerdahl as she perused the silent auction items with her husband, Eric.
The live auction, featuring Rod Salchert and Telford Advent,
The evening was rounded out with dozens of door prizes and auction items–some bid on silently and some during a live auction, featuring Rod Salchert and Telford Advent.
A polar bear cast, donated by the local Ducks Unlimited, fetched the highest bid–more than $700–during the live auction, which featured Rod Salchert and Telford Advent (and a guest appearance by Jean-Marc Blanc).
A quilt, donated by Shelly DeGagne, went for $550.
The Rendez-Vous donated the banquet facility for the dinner while the staff there donated their time.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
