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Ruddick's donates recliner for upcoming Tri-Valley gala
In preparation for the 2011 edition of the Friends of Tri-Valley Foundation Celebration, Ruddick's Furniture in Fort Scott has donated a recliner for auction.
The fete, which raises funds for the Tri-Valley Foundation, starts off with a silent auction July 11 at the Scottish Rite Temple ballroom, 110 S. Main St. Hours will be 9 a.m.-6 p.m. On July 12, hours will be 9 a.m.-6 p.m. with entertainment and dinner starting at 6 p.m. at the Liberty Theatre, 113 S. Main St.
Along with the recliner -- valued at $599 on sale -- according to the price tag, about 100 items have already been contributed for the auction, such as books signed by authors and items signed by celebrities.
Best-selling author Dean Koontz signed his newest book. "We've been very fortunate this year on all the support we've gotten," Tri-Valley Director of Public Relations and Grants Anna Methvin said.
This year, Rudy Amato of Kansas City and Father Bernie Gorges of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Chanute return and will be providing the entertainment and auctioneering services. They provided entertainment last year. "It's a fun night. Father Bernie and Rudy they just feed off each other, They had everyone laughing (last time)," Methvin said.
Jim and Paulette Smith, owners of the Liberty Theatre, along with Business Manager Jill Gray, donate the venue and their time. The only cost to Tri-Valley is the dinner, which will be served by Tri-Valley employees who also give of their time, Methvin said.
"Last year, Jim supplied us with a prime rib dinner. We just left it up to him (this year) to create one of his specialty dinners and I know it will be just as good as last year," Methvin said. "We are really fortunate to be able to partner with them again this year."
Tickets are available at the Tri-Valley Service Center, 4305 Campbell Dr., Fort Scott. Costs are $30 a seat, or $200 for a table seating six, Methvin said. All event proceeds go toward the foundation's mission of building homes for the developmentally disabled in Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson counties. Funds from this year's drive will go to help pay for a fifth home currently being built in Fort Scott.
Clients will likely start living in the six-bedroom house, located on East First Street, around July 1. An open house will be held sometime either right before or right after that date. The residence, built in sections by Advanced Systems Homes of Chanute, features a two-bedroom apartment, two full kitchens, three full baths, a huge common living room and a wheelchair accessible tornado shelter on the back deck, Methvin said.
The homes are built solely on donations, and even if people don't attend the gala, they can contribute to the cause by bidding on items for the silent auction.
The foundation was formed in 1990 with the goal of building affordable housing to Tri-Valley clients.
There are currently two homes in Humboldt, one in Iola and one in Fort Scott with the second one on the way. The foundation also has land in Chanute should the need arise there, Methvin said.
"We're just so proud we've had such good support from the community to do that," Methvin said.
Other foundation fundraisers are the Advanced Systems Charitable Golf Tournament and the 11th annual RV and truck drawing.
The golf tourney is scheduled for June 18 at the Quarry Stone Golf Course in Chanute.
The 18-hole, four-man scramble is now in its ninth year and has been played in Chanute, Fort Scott and Iola.
The 11th annual RV and truck drawing will be conducted June 24 in Chanute. One winner will receive a 2011 Canyon Trail 29FRBW double slide out manufactured by Gulf Stream and sold by Wheelen RV of Joplin, a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD crew cab sold by Ranz Motor Company of Chanute, plus a turnover ball hitch donated by B&W Custom Truck Beds in Humboldt. Total retail value of the items is approximately $100,000.
Last year, there were more than 1,900 entries with the winners coming from Colorado.