Editor,

Thanks to the many donors and attendees who made our Instant Wine Cellar, held Sept. 30, a huge success. This event raised $11,076 through admissions, raffle tickets and a generous matching gift from the Island Thrift board of directors.

The community overwhelmed us with its generosity for the event. We were able to get all the wine and beer for the “Instant Wine Cellar” and “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” raffle donated by United Way board members Paige Bates, Becky Bolte, Jim Cloore, Amy Jorden, Jeff McMahan, Melissa Riker, Bill Weinsheimer and Gregg Zylstra, also with the help of Instant Wine Cellar Committee members Kathi Phillips and Sheila Saul.

Donated for the event were: a wine refrigerator, by Mark Brown and Kathi Phillips; a Rattan Party Cooler, by Paige and Tony Bates; raffle baskets, by Three Sisters, Honeymoon Bay, Knead &Feed, Red’s Boutique and Penn Cove Tap Room; and party keg by Flyers Restaurant and Brewery.

Eight restaurants participated as our “BITES.” They were Brett’s Bread, Ciao, Elk’s Lodge, Frasers Gourmet Hideway, Flyers, Jumbo Burrito, Louie-G’s and Rustica. Our “SIPS” donated wine and beer. They were Flyer’s, Whidbey Island Winery, Jim Cloore and Cathy and Cedric Niiro.

The DJ, Michael Duke, sponsored by Whidbey Island Bank, provided the dancing music for our guests.

We had the honor of having many celebrity servers: Island County Sheriff Mark Brown; Island County Human Services Director and Coupeville Councilwoman Jackie Henderson; Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson-Pfeiffer; Oak Harbor Fire Chief Ray Merrill; Island Thrift President Alex Pfeiffer; Melissa McCumber and Bruce VanTassell, from Whidbey Island Bank; Paige and Tony Bates, from RE/Max Acorn Properties; and Oak Harbor Councilwoman Tara Hizon.

Much planning went into the event and could not have happened without Jim Cloore, Bill Weinsheimer, Kathi Phillips, Paige Bates, Melissa Riker and Sheila Saul. The event was such a success as a fund raiser that planning is underway for next year.

We truly appreciate all those involved for their support of United Way of Island County and this community event.

Cathy Niiro,

executive director

United Way of Island County