Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 48F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..
Tonight
Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Soroptimist International clubs in White Salmon and Hood River recently joined forces in kicking-off their fundraising year with a highly successful "Winter Gala," held at the Hood River Inn.
Proceeds are being donated to Hospice of The Gorge.
Partygoers reported having had "a blast." Hood River resident Dennis Shypertt, who attended the event with his wife Patricia, said: "This was one of the best parties I've been to in a long time, and the fact that proceeds are going to hospice makes it an even better way to spend money. I think of it as a 'two-for-one' event."
Darryl Barton of White Salmon agrees. He says: "I normally don't like to come to these kinds of things, but I'm really glad I did. The band was great, the desserts they served were terrific; and, I'm amazed at how generous our local merchants were in contributing items to the silent auction. They had some really great stuff there."
Kathleen O'Connor McNew, club president for the Mt. Adams club, said, "We wanted to do a fundraiser for an organization that served communities throughout The Gorge, and Hospice of The Gorge is one of the few non-profit organizations that fits the bill."
Event organizer Carolyn Van Orden added, "This is the first time the two clubs got together to do a fundraiser, and we wanted to be sure that both sides of the river could benefit from what we did."
O'Connor-McNew and Van Orden reported that a total of $4,525.00 was raised from the sale of tickets and from silent auction proceeds.
Given the success of this year's event, O'Connor-McNew said, "We're already making plans for next year's event."
Soroptimist International clubs are women's service clubs, located in 120 countries throughout the world. They raise money for a variety of causes, and have a special focus on raising funds to help women overcome obstacles to success in life They sponsor fundraisers throughout the year to fund scholarships for young women in-need; emergency shelter and care for women and children; recognition for women who demonstrate exemplary community service, and more.
Call Kathleen O'Connor-McNew at (541) 386-8904 for more information about Soroptimist International in Washington, and Carolyn Van Order at 386-3990 for information about the Hood River club.
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