PORT ANGELES — Organizers of three events this week hope to raise $20,000 to help the clinic run by Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics — or VIMO.
A breakfast speech this morning will feature Bill Stainton, who wrote, directed and performed on “Almost Live!,” a sketch comedy television show that aired in Seattle from 1984 to 1999.
The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. today at the Red Lion Hotel.
Tickets are available at the door and cost $25.
Stainton also spoke at the first VIMO fundraiser on Thursday night, the Healthy Harvest dinner, which sold out to more than 200 people, said Patty Hannah, a member of the VIMO board.
“The workshop on Friday was really Stainton’s idea,” she said.
“He offered to stay over after the Thursday event and do this with the proceeds benefiting VIMO.”
The clinic at 909 Georgiana St., in Port Angeles, sees uninsured and under-insured patients for non-emergency care.
Special auction
This week’s fundraising events for the free clinic will culminate with a special auction on Saturday that will include entertainment and a variety of items to raise money for the clinic.
The silent auction was coordinated by nine service groups working together, said Bill Ashley, who is heading up efforts by Nor’Wester Rotary.
Other service groups include the Soroptimist International Port Angeles — Jet Set and the Port Angeles Soroptimist Noon Club, Port Angeles Rotary, Port Angeles Kiwanis, Olympic Kiwanis, Juan de Fuca Kiwanis, Port Angeles Exchange Club and Port Angeles Lions Club, Ashley said.
“No one I have talked to has ever heard of an event that all of the service clubs have gotten together to work on,” he said.
The doors at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St., will open at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Admission will be $10 at the door. Tickets are $7.50 if purchased in advance at the Toggery, KONP or the Elks lodge.
Music will be provided by High Definition, Ashley said.
Items available for auction include 10 yards of gravel for delivery within the Port Angeles area; use of a condo in Palm Springs, Calif. or in Lake Tahoe, Nev.; gift baskets; gift certificates; and eight cords of wood, Ashley said.
A total of 250 tickets were initially available, and 160 were purchased by service clubs, he said.
Hannah said that VIMO’s goal matches the amount raised last year.
“So we are hoping to do that or exceed it this year,” she said.
Ashley said that with the technological advancements that now are necessary, the money was a necessity for the clinic.
“You hear about Olympic Medical Center updating their medical records to electronic. Well, VIMO has to do that, too, Ashley said.
“But something has to pay for that.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
