Cheers to Charity distributes $26,500 to local nonprofits
Cheers to Charity
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Nick Smirnoff NPPA
From left to right: Donna Fischman for The Tehachapi Kiwanis Club, Marget Willer for the Tehachapi After School Program at the local Salvation Army, Sandy Harvey Young receiving for the Stallion Springs CERT team, Nikki Cummings for The Tehachapi Economic Development Council and Curtis Nelson for The Tehachapi Wrestling Club.
The second year of Tehachapi's unique, multi-organizational fund-raising event, Cheers to Charity, was a wonderful success. Delicious food, fine wine, scrumptious craft beer and home brews were enjoyed by 500 friends and neighbors. The evening stars, engaging music, friendly conversation and splendid camaraderie made for a truly wonderful night in Tehachapi!
The Cheers to Charity committee made up of Tehachapi residents Yolanda Acevedo, Becca Dillenbeck, Mary Beth Garrison, Samara Hart and Marcia Thompson, met at the Tehachapi Train Depot, on Thursday, September 24th, to thank sponsors, volunteers, restaurants, wineries, breweries, home brewers and attendees.
"We are grateful to everyone who helped make Cheers to Charity an amazing evening of generosity. In truth, the participants were the real stars of the evening! Your support is enabling the Cheers to Charity committee to write checks to 17 nonprofit organizations in the amount of $26,500 - a 75% increase over last year's giving," said committee member Mary Beth Garrison.
Feedback from sponsors, attendees, volunteers and participants has been positive. Funds were distributed to the following nonprofit organizations: The Salvation Army of Tehachapi Youth Center $10,000; Stallion Springs Community Emergency Response Team $ 6,000; The Tehachapi Economic Development Council $ 2,500; The Tehachapi Wrestling Club $2,500; The Tehachapi Kiwanis CLUB $ 1,500; and 12 mini-grants totaling $4000.
Nick Smirnoff NPPA
From left to right: Selection committee members Yolanda Acevedo, Mary Beth Garrison, Samara Hart and Marcia Thompson pose with Tehachapi Salvation Army Director Marget Willer (front) and After School Program Director Michal Knowles (front left).
The 2015 Cheers to Charity mini-grants were given to the Arts, Science and Technology Education Corporation of Tehachapi, Good Shepard Lutheran Preschool & Child Care Center, Houchin Community Blood Bank, Kelly's Therapeutic Riders, Koinonia Family Services, Sand Canyon Volunteer Council, Tehachapi Community Theatre Association, Tehachapi Community Orchestra Foundation, Tehachapi Humane Society, Tehachapi Lions Club, Tehachapi Society of Pilots, and the Tehachapi Veteran's Collaborative Services in amounts ranging from $275 - $500 each.
The committee has already begun to plan for the 2016 event. They announced that there will be some exciting surprises next year. "The intention is not to make it bigger, just better," Garrison continued, with a smile.
