PORT ANGELES — More than 300 people contributed $88,000 to Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Hog Wild fundraiser, which was the first event at the Field Arts & Events Hall.
“The ‘wow’ factor was in play Saturday night,” said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, which organized the 10th annual Hog Wild fundraiser.
“People got to see that this is one of the most impressive theaters and event centers in the Pacific Northwest,” Skinner said.
“It was the perfect venue for the incredible entertainment that we had.”
The event at Field Hall, 201 W. Front St., featured the showing of the 1942 classic film Casablanca. Port Angeles’ Amanda Bacon and Everett Polanski from Seattle performed Le Marseillaise and As Times Goes By, respectively — two of the featured songs in the film.
Four performers who have been a part of Seattle’s famed Teatro Zinzanni or other circus acts entertained throughout the evening.
Kevin Joyce, the co-founder of EnJoy Productions, hosted the event, while Mick Holsbeke, a world-renowned clown and cast member of the 2018 reopening of Teatro Zinzanni and stiltwalker and acrobalancer Jenny Penny and juggler and musician Alex Zerbe also performed.
The attendees also were entertained by Port Angeles band Black Diamond Junction.
“This was one of the most exciting fundraisers that has ever been held in the state,” Skinner said. “The fact that we went from $26,000 (the amount raised in 2002), to almost $90,000 this year is indicative of that.”
Funds raised will go toward the purchase of equipment for the OMC Children’s Clinic, and to support the OMCF Scholarship fund, which has been established to boost the OMC workforce.
Hog Wild co-chairs Casi Fors and Kelly Gouge said they were excited to be able to hold the event at Field Hall.
“It will be a performance hall for everyone and an incredible game changer for downtown Port Angeles,” said Fors, who also is on the Field Hall board.
As another highlight, more than 60 people showed up in 1940s costumes or movie dress from the Casablanca era.
“They really added to the event,” Gouge said.
The event became the first to be conducted at Field Hall when the city provided a temporary occupancy permit at the last minute.
The estimated $50 million Field Hall plans a grand opening weekend July 27-30, preceded by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet on July 6, Katya Grineva on July 16 and a free Community Weekend July 22-23 featuring two days of entertainment by local artists and performers.
Field Hall includes a 500-seat auditorium and a conference center.
