Lamar Area Hospice Receives $20,000 Donation

Seated: Deb Pelley and Rose Ann Yates. Rear: Lisa McCollough, Sabre Reinert, Shawna Hodge, Mike Marinac, Robbie Sue Young, Lisa Carder

Deb Pelley, Executive Director of Lamar Area Hospice, was presented with a check for $20,000 this past Monday, November 24.  Two annual events are held which raise funds that go directly to the local hospice organization; the August Angels Open Golf Tournament at Spreading Antlers Golf Course, and the annual Hospice Barn Dance, held this past year at the Lamar Eagles Lodge.

Rose Ann Yates, director of the fund raising events, said this year’s donation of $20,000 was sizable, but not the largest, “We’ve had larger donations in past years, but this is still good.  We had calendar issues last year that dropped our donations, but this year everything worked perfectly.” Yates added her appreciation to the local retailers and merchants who contribute their resources to the two fundraising events.

Mike Marinac, who handles the logistics of the golf tournament and is the man behind the BBQ grill, said he’s happy with the way events turned out this year for both events.  “People come out and enjoy themselves and help raise needed funds for hospice.  This year, we usually only have 18 teams register for the golf tournament, but then we were up to twenty and a few days later, up to 24 and we’ll find room for them all.”  He added that the extra teams didn’t cause the tournament to go any longer than usual.  Yates estimated about 175 people attended the barn dance which also helped generate donations.

Deb Pelley thanked the presenting group for their efforts for the yearly donation.  “These donations will go right into our operational fund.  It buys meds, supplies, it aids our caregivers and that of course, helps our clients.”

(Committee members not available for picture: Denise Carder, Shirley Smith, Angela Sutphin, Linda Thompson, Holly Burton, Lisa Thomas, Cheryl Preisser)

By Russ Baldwin