ARLINGTON A cold icy night did not deter supporters of the Cascade Valley Hospital Foundation from enjoying a reception and a movie, just for fun.
The evening was more of a thank you than a fundraiser, said Joan Miles, staff for the foundation.
Plus we want all these people to keep us in mind for the future.
CVHF is a nonprofit group committed to helping the hospital with whatever its needs might be.
Secretary of the foundation, Kay Duskin said the last major contribution of the foundation was the acquisition of defibulators for all the hospitals clinics.
All current donations will be directed to the hospitals plan to expand the emergency room from six to 16 units, Duskin said.
Hospital management has been discussing presenting a bond proposal to voters and recently announced they will request a $42.5 million bond to expand emergency room facilities may be presented to voters this spring.
Weve just started meeting with a company that specializes in helping school districts and others to pass bonds, said the public relations staff person for the hospital, LuAnn Kay.
We were pleased to have 170 people show up at the theater, Miles said adding that 275 tickets were sold and the capacity of the theater is 300.
There were quite a few no-shows due to the icy roads, she said.
The film features James Garner as a deceased billionaire and all the dysfunctional descendants drooling over the expected inheritance. His grandson, whos father died when young, apparently held a soft spot in the heart of grandpa, who had a sense that the young man might be salvageable. So instead of handing over the money, he set up a series of challenges to be presented by his long-time attorney and close friend.
The son, of course, succeeded in all the tasks, including digging fencepost holes across the family ranch in the hard Texas dirt for a whole month. Then he had to find a true friend, and finally he passed the test with flying colors when he gave away his first $100 million.
Luckily a sick young girl and her unemployed mother came into the young mans life and contributed to his transformation. When his young friend, Emily died of cancer, he used his first remittance to build Emilys Home. Only then did he learn that his real inheritance would be grandpas entire estate valued at many billions.
Although the movie was very predictable, it did draw some sniffles in the crowd.
You knew when the little girl showed up that it would be a tear jerker, said Miles.
The film was a way to promote giving in general and to the hospital in particular, Miles said.
Wed like to thank Steve and Martin at The Bistro, who donated a portion of the appetizers at the reception, and Norma, for making the theater available, said Miles, who also expressed thanks to all the donors of the past. As a gesture to make those donors feel appreciated, Miles herself was on her hands and knees on the icy sidewalk to lay a red plastic carpet from the theater to the restaurant. Although she ran out of carpet before she reached the restaurant, and it got a bit slippery in the evening frost, she thought it turned out well.
I managed to sell a few more tickets in the process, Miles laughed.
Past donors to the CVHF are also recognized at the hospital with a new donors wall.
Now weve got a donors wall at the hospital, too, said Duskin. who, as president of the Arlington School District Board of Directors and coordinator of the grand opening celebration at the Arlington High School performing arts center coming up in May, has contributed to a donors wall at the PAC as well.
Another project to encourage community support for the hospital is the foundations monthly dinner and tour of the hospital, with department directors offering information along the way.
These tours are for any community members who want to learn more about their community hospital, Miles said.
Miles said the evening tours with dinner are often on the second Tuesday each month, but sometimes that varies.
Were trying to show the community what weve got and that we want to keep it here in Arlington.
For information call Miles at 360-435-2133 or e-mail to joanm@cascadevalley.org.