Mike Riopelle to perform at 2nd Annual Benefits by the Glass

Mike was involved in the music scene in Portland as far back as the 1970’s, playing rhythm guitar and singing in several acoustic trios and bands. He now enjoys the more intimate settings to perform for his audiences.

Beginning in the late 70’s he played in a number of trios and bands in Portland before stopping in the mid 80’s to raise a family. A little over 2 years ago, with his acoustic 6 string, 12string and baritone guitars, he began again to sing and play the music he grew up with along with some of my own tunes. He has found a needed niche for the variety of folk rock and ballads of his generation that seem to fit well with a relaxing glass of wine, conversation, food and friends.

2011 Benefits by the Glass - July 30th - 2 - 6 PM

Join us on July 30, 2011 from 2-6 PM at Our Daily Bread Restaurant for an event to benifit the Fern Ridge Service Center building fund. Enjoy sparkling wines from Domaine Meriwether, dining discounts from Our Daily Bread and a silent auction and raffle. Tickets are sale now and can be purchased at the following ticket outlets or at the event.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Visit:
Our Daily Bread Restaurant
Siuslaw Bank - Veneta Branch
Domaine Meriwether
Cup of Joe

Call:
Senior Connections, 541-935-2262
Ticket Line at 541-833-0180.

The Ford Family Foundation Awards $250,000 to the Fern Ridge Service Center

The Ford Family Foundation makes grants to public charities that predominantly benefit small communities in rural Oregon and Siskiyou County, California. Their mission of "successful citizens and vital rural communities" is achieved in part by directing grant resources to projects and programs which align with their grant guidelines.

With that in mind the Fern Ridge Service Center Partners submitted a grant request to Ford Family to help build the new Fern Ridge Service Center to replace the Garcia Center, which no longer accommodates the number of volunteers, range of in-house services provided, and amount of food distributed. Foundation funds for the new Center will dramatically improve the capacity of the Partners to meet a growing need for services. It will also improve safety for volunteers and food storage, provide private spaces for sensitive social services, and offer meeting rooms for seniors and those utilizing the food bank. Importantly, the new Center will support these enhanced services while providing a community dining and socializing space to host seniors and residents in need.

On February 18, 2011 The Ford Family Foundation acknowledged the need for the new center and awarded the project a $250,000 grant. With this grant award and other local fundraising, the Fern Ridge Service Center Partners (FRSCP) have secured nearly $350,000.

In April, the FRSCP hopes to apply for a Community Development Block Grant totaling $1,400,000. This grant in addition to the $350,000 currently raised will put us in a position to begin final design and get construction documents created.

Continued support of this project is greatly needed to help make it a reality. Please support this project anyway you can. If you would like to volunteer for a fundraising event or would like to make a donation, please call Zac Moody at the City of Veneta at 541-935-2191 or by email at zmoody@ci.veneta.or.us.

Appreciation Luncheon for the Red Hat Society Volunteers

Thank you so much to everyone who made yesterday's luncheon so special. The ladies from the Red Hat Society have been an integral part of recent fundraising efforts for the Fern Ridge Service Center, specifically, the Pie Baking contest held last September at the Veneta Harvest Festival. Their help with baking pies for the pie sale helped us raise more than $200. Thank you again ladies for all that you have done to help raise funds for construction of the Service Center and for your continued support.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Red Had Society, please contact
Mary Holmes
gar6mar@pacinfo.com

Mary Holmes - Red Hat Society

More good fundraising news!

Thanks to two generous donations totaling $35,000, the local Fern Ridge Service Center fundraising total has increased to $71,140. Thank you again to all of those that have given so graciously.

Thank You for a Successful Harvest Festival

Thank you to everyone who supported the Veneta Harvest Festival this past weekend. We had over 30 volunteers and generated over $3,800 in net proceeds from sponsors, donations, vendor booth fees and other festival activities. The Festival provided a variety of food, merchant, farm and non-profit vendors that were all very successful. The First Annual Pie Baking Contest was a huge success with 27 pies entered. After the judging was completed, each pie was sold by the slice. More than 70 slices of pie were sold, raising nearly $100.

Of course, this event would not have been successful had it not been for our sponsors, contributors and volunteers. Volunteers during the day of the festival donated over 120 hours of time, helping to cut pie, direct visitors and answer questions about the new center.

Although the festival was a benefit for the Service Center, local area kids got involved as well, baking pies, enjoying a miniature golf game, playing in the jumping castle and even getting their faces painted.

And what is a festival without music? A special thanks goes out to our dedicated musician who supported this event and to Stillwaters and Apropos Musique for continuing to be such a great partner to the Fern Ridge Service Center.

This event along with the Benefits by the Glass benefit back in June have helped bring more awareness to the Service Center building project and educate the Fern Ridge residents about the needs that are met out of this facility.

Thanks again for everyone's support. Help Us Build! Help Us Serve! It all starts with you.

Fern Ridge Service Center Information Booth

Pie Baking Judging

Pies from the Pie Baking Contest