“25 Years of Caring and Sharing” at the 25th Anniversary Christmas Fantasy 2016
The Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Christmas Fantasy hosted 57 decorated full-size Christmas trees at the event held November 11-14 in Waukon. These trees were all decorated by local individuals, businesses, organizations and classes, and each had a local person or business sponsoring them as well. Local entertainers performed at each event during the course of the weekend. Submitted photo.
A record of 111 silent auction items, like the ones pictured here, were donated to this year’s Christmas Fantasy. The VMH Healthcare Foundation expresses its appreciation to the over 1,000 people who decorated or contributed in some way to make this community event so successful. Submitted photo.
The 2016 Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation’s Christmas Fantasy was held last weekend, November 11-14 at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon, and was a huge success thanks to all of the overwhelming community involvement.
“From the decorators, to the entertainers, to the treat makers, to the auction donors and buyers, I am once again overwhelmed by the community participation, and also the community support by the large numbers of people who attended the events,” stated Mike Myers, Hospital administrator. “Our Foundation members should be proud of themselves for putting on such a spectacular community event.”
A record number of auction items were donated to this year’s Fantasy by area businesses and individuals. The 111 auction items were displayed and auctioned on a silent auction bid to the highest bidder Monday night at 7 p.m.
Trees on display during this 25th annual Foundation Fantasy included 57 full-size Christmas trees. Five items were also donated to the Foundation for their use in a raffle. A free year membership to the new Waukon Wellness Center was donated by the Wellness Center Board, a beef meat bundle was donated by Fareway, a framed Terry Redlin Print was donated by the Foundation Board, and two raffle prizes of a half hog each were donated by Welsh Family Organic Farms with the processing donated by Jet’s Meats and Wayne and Joan Burk.
The event was planned and sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation, including Sue Blagsvedt, Dan Denk, Jane Dietrich, Jackie Halverson, Kevin Hanson, Amy Cote’, Ardie Kuhse, Craig Lensing, Dennis Lyons, Gail Prestemon, Ann Roed, Jeanette Ruegnitz, Nona Sawyer, Nancy Schoh and Matt Teslow, assisted by Kim Sylvester, Pat Pettingill, Julie Thompson, Karen Swenson and Wayne Burk.
