Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
The 2004 Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund Gala is Sept. 10 at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, Leesburg.
Several items already have been donated for the silent and live auctions, including artwork. Proceeds from the event go toward helping local patients during their fight against cancer.
The KCCCF is comprised of volunteers and gives 100 percent of the money raised each year to cancer patients. No funds go to administration fees. Funds are distributed to cancer patients for items such as rent/mortgage payments, utilities, food certificates, health/life insurance, medicine and other needs.
Money is raised by corporate sponsors, private donations, a golf outing, bridge tournament, other fundraising activities and the annual gala. Last year, the 2004 KCCCF raised more than $151,000 for patients.
Grossnickle Eye Center donated ÊIntraLase LASIK eye correction, with custom Wavescan treatment, valued at $4,200, for this year's live auction. Other items in the live auction include: an AKC-registered Boston Terrier puppy, donated by Pam Brickley Hann and Lake City Animal Clinic (value $400); eight tickets to the Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers game, including travel in a luxury motor home to Soldier Field, donated by Chuck Niemier, David Stell and Omer Kropf ($1,000); a 14K white and yellow gold pendant with 16 diamonds on a three-strand white gold chain, donated by Bill and Susan Allen ($2,100); a 23-foot, 2005 212 Captiva boat, with V-8 Mercruiser 220 horsepower motor, extended swim platform and cockpit cover, donated by Kim Slocum/Rinker Boats ($31,157); dinner for eight prepared in the bidder's home by Chef Scott Wood, owner of Noa Noa, with wine provided by Tim Pinnick, King's Keg; a one-week stay at a Fort Myers Beach, Fla., two-bedroom, two-bath condo between May 1 and Oct. 1, donated by Peter Barrett of Starcraft Marine; and a two-hour cruise on Lake Wawasee on the S.S. Lily Pad for 80 people, donated by Mike Kaduke, with music by John Kirkwood and appetizers ($2,250).
The silent auction will feature local artists, highlighted by a hand-painted Pottery Bayou plate by Max Elliott. Max, 5, is the son of this year's speaker, Matt, and Kristin Elliott. He has leukemia.
Max started kindergarten at Eisenhower Elementary and receives rigorous weekly treatments.
Matt graduated from the University of Michigan, where he played football. He went on to be an offensive lineman with the Washington Redskins for three years, the Carolina Panthers for three years, the Atlanta Falcons for one year, and suffered a career-ending injury while playing for the Denver Broncos. He now resides in Warsaw with his wife and two children. Kristin worked in sports marketing for 13 years and now stays at home with Max and 2-1/2-year-old Abbie.
Items from the Park Avenue Gallery will include: an epoxy sculpture by Mary Pat Wallen; a limited edition watercolor print by Terry Armstrong; a pastel landscape by Mike Kelly; and Raku pottery by Steve Vachon and Gary Nieter. Other artwork in the silent auction will be: a hand-knit shawl by Kathy Carvey, The Shuttle Shop; semi-precious jewelry by Nandy Fisher, represented by John and Gretchen Hartman of Blue Heron Artworks; a watercolor tulip bouquet, by Nicole Moore, Art & Soul; vintage-inspired jewelry by Sue Karzewski, Lakeland Art Gallery; a handcrafted cherry tray by Tom Snow, Winona Woods; a glass sculpture by Duane Darland; a hand-painted silk scarf by Jennifer Ortega, Canal Street Gallery; an original watercolor landscape by Steve Johnson, Canal Street Gallery; handcrafted chair decoration by Jan Campbell; "Poppy," an oil painting by Cheryl Blakemore; "Spunky," a pen and ink drawing by Bob Sanders; and "First Sign of Spring," a Giclee limited-edition floral print by Susie Brandes, Water Lilly Gallery, Syracuse, and Van Meter Jewelry & Gifts.
In addition to the art, silent auction items include: a Rave Aqua Deck, donated by Bart's Water Sports ($1,500); an evening of fine dining for 10 at a Tippecanoe Lake home, starting with appetizers and a game of pool, followed by dinner of Beef Wellington with a wine peppercorn sauce, served on Versace china from Europe, donated by Dr. and Mrs. VanOsdol and co-hosted by Bruce and Diane Burnett ($1,000); a biplane ride for two in an open cockpit WACO Classic biplane, donated by Jerry Rea ($100); a Flexsteel recliner, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Greg Ummel and Flexsteel Industries Inc.; a Bob List Photography package; four tickets to "A Year with Frog and Toad" in December and a two-night stay in the suite of your choice, donated by Ramada Plaza Entertainment Plaza ($450); a Sunrise Photography portrait package ($350); a Weber Baby-Q-Grill, from Teghtmeyer Ace Hardware ($250); custom-fit Taylor Made Irons, by Golf USA and Randy Ruppel; and a custom-made wood table, donated by Dr. and Mrs. Philip Faris ($850).
Gift baskets were donated by: Amazing Carpet, Anderson Greenhouses, Boathouse/American Table, Cosmo & Co., Crownover Jewelry, Expressions Salon, North Pointe Cinema, Dr. and Mrs. William Myers, Pottery Bayou, trainer Lou Sierrie, Stephan Enterprise, Tippecanoe Lake Golf Shop, the trainer at Expressions and Warsaw Cut Glass.
The gala Sept. 10 at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club will start at 5:30 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the speaker, Matt Elliott. The evening will conclude with dancing to Brent Evans and the Hired Guns band. The cost is $125 per person. Limited seating is available; for more information, call Pam Messmore, Lake City Bank, 574-267-9136.
Donations may be mailed to KCCCF at Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, P.O. Box 1809, Warsaw, IN 46581-1809.
