Stanwood golfers give winnings back to chamber

Published 10:45 pm Thursday, August 20, 2009

Golfers in Stanwood play well, and give back.

There were 72 golfers at the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce’s fifth annual Golf Classic sponsored by Sterling Savings Bank and Team Garcia in Stanwood.

“Everyone had a great time and enjoyed lots of games, food and prizes,” says Stacy Johnson, executive director of the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce. “We had a tie for first place between Stanwood Hardware and the city of Stanwood.”

For the second year in a row, the Stanwood Hardware Team, led by owner Jack Nicholas, donated their cash prize back to the chamber.

“Isn’t that awesome?” Johnson says.

The money helps children at Christmas.

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Applications are due Aug. 31 for Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation community scholarships.

The money will go to adults for college, workshops or educational courses.

Those eligible must be age 21 or older and current Stanwood-Camano residents or past graduates from Stanwood or Lincoln Hill High Schools. Applications are available at www.s-ccs.org.

One of the scholarships is the Peebler Caregiver Scholarship, in honor of Kathy Peebler, for taking care of the elderly.

Theresa Metzger, executive director of the foundation, said they received donations in memory of John Whittaker who died July 7.

Whittaker, a retired GTE executive and civic leader who lived on Camano Island, died at his home after a debilitating illness.

“The family indicated that memorials were to be sent to our Kathy Peebler Caregiver Scholarship Fund,” Metzger says. “We have received checks from across the country.”

The Peebler scholarship was set up by the family of Edward Jones (one of the foundation founders) to thank Kathy Peebler for excellent nursing care she gave him during his last years.

“The families that Kathy continues to work with frequently include her scholarship in their memorials and these generate scholarships for more people to go into that difficult, but rewarding, field.”

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The Old Bags of Arlington recently held a raffle, says secretary Judi Martin. They raised money to help children and families in need in their community.

“The winner, Eileen Floch, is the aunt of one of our members, Diane Nielson,” Martin says. “Diane, by the way, is one of our more active and generous members.”

Nielson sold a ticket to her aunt, 79, who lived on and worked a 1,500-acre cattle, grain and hay ranch in Molson, just south of the Canadian border, where she raised six children. Floch was active in the Okanogan County Fair and 4-H.

When her first husband died, Floch married an attorney from Okanogan and has lived there for the last 21 years.

She won a three-day trip to Reno, Nev., when her raffle ticket was drawn.

Kindly, she gave the trip back to the Old Bags to be used to help families they support.

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For the fourth year, Make-A-Wish Foundation supporter U.S. Bank of Washington is raising money to grant wishes to sick children.

The branch in Marysville is contributing.

Through August, buy $1 wish stars at 11401 State Ave.

“Our team is excited to help,” said Debi Fitzsimmons of the north Marysville branch. “Our branch was the top fundraising branch in our district in 2006. We welcome anyone from the community to come by and help this important cause.”

Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.