Thanks to a surge of last-minute contributions, a record-breaking $67,048.87 from people and organizations in Clallam and Jefferson counties was contributed to the Peninsula Daily News’ Peninsula Home Fund.
This final total for the 2002 campaign broke the old record set in 2001 of $63,777.
The 2002 fund drive had 570 contributors — individuals, couples, businesses, churches, clubs and school groups.
There were 578 contributors in 2001, 345 in 2000 and 314 in 1999.
All contributions are fully IRS tax-deductible — and 100 percent of the dollars donated go directly to assist those in need in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
“The Peninsula Daily News thanks — and commends — all of our readers who reached out to lend a hand through the Peninsula Home Fund,” said John Brewer, PDN editor and publisher.
“We are very proud to be able to connect donors with those in need — and do so without any red tape or administrative expense.
“Community service is an essential part of the PDN’s mission.
“But of all the things the PDN does, none is more satisfying for me than the Home Fund.”
Fund never closes
The books on the 2002 fund drive are now closed.
But the Peninsula Home Fund itself never closes.
Donations of any amount are always welcome.
They can be sent at any time to Peninsula Home Fund, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Click on the button at left to generate a coupon that you can fell out and mail in with your contribution.
New contributions will go toward the 2003 campaign.
Contributions collected before Thanksgiving gave us a running start on this year’s holiday campaign.
More than $6,750 was contributed between Jan. 1 and Nov. 24, the Sunday before Thanksgiving when the 2002 holiday fund-raising campaign began. The campaign ended Dec. 31.
A safety net
Completing its 14th year, Peninsula Home Fund is a safety net for residents in Jefferson and Clallam counties when they face emergency situations — and can’t find help elsewhere.
From Port Townsend to Forks, from Quilcene and Brinnon to LaPush, it’s a helping hand for children, teens, families and the elderly.
Every dollar goes — without any deductions for costs — for hot meals for seniors, warm winter coats for kids, home repairs for the low income, needed prescription drugs, dental work, safe, drug-free temporary housing, eyeglasses — the list goes on and on.
The nonprofit program’s emphasis is on making sure no one falls through the cracks during the most demanding time of the year — winter.
No administrative costs
* No money is diverted for administration or other overhead.
All costs are absorbed by Peninsula Daily News and nonprofit OlyCAP — Olympic Community Action Programs, the No. 1 emergency care agency on the Peninsula. OlyCAP manages the fund for the PDN.
* Your personal information is kept confidential.
The PDN does not rent, sell, give or otherwise share your address or other information with anyone, or make any other use of it.
* Money from the fund is commonly distributed in small amounts, usually up to $100, and assistance is limited to one time in a 12-month period.
Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling Olympic Community Action to stretch the value of the contributions.
Peninsula Home Fund contributions are often used in conjunction with money from churches, service clubs and other donors, enabling OlyCAP to stretch the value of the contributions.
* To apply for a grant from the fund, phone OlyCAP at 360-452-4726 (Clallam County) or 360-385-2571 (Jefferson County).
There are OlyCAP offices in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Forks.
More than 700 helped
The $63,777 raised by the Peninsula Home Fund in 2001 allowed OlyCAP to help more than 700 families and individuals in 2002 — people that the organization wouldn’t have been able to assist otherwise, according to Tim Hockett, OlyCAP’s deputy director.
This total for the 2001 campaign broke the old record set in 2000 of $42,703.
“The generosity of our community continues to amaze us here at OlyCAP,” said Hockett.
“In this economic environment we were sure that the Peninsula Daily News’ Home Fund would fall far below last year’s record.
“In these unsettled times, it should make us all feel good that the North Olympic Peninsula pulls together in behalf of their neighbors in need.
“We are so thankful to each of those who gave.”
Final donors
The following are the final contributions received for the 2001 fund drive — thank you for making a difference in the lives — and futures– of your neighbors:
* Dianne and Sylvia Durrwachter, Port Angeles, $100.
* Lynn and Jenifer Taylor, Port Townsend, $100.
Donors who requested anonymity:
* Sequim, $2,000.
* Port Angeles, $300, in honor of Love, Faith, Charity.
* Bainbridge Island, $200.
* Port Angeles, $150.
* Port Angeles, $20.
* Sequim, $10, in memory of June Comtois.
* Port Angeles, $125.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Forks, $100, in memory of Sylvia Murphy.
* Port Townsend, $100, in memory of Glenn Johnson.
* Port Hadlock, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Port Angeles, $200.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Angeles, $50, in memory of Richard E. “Dick” Fisch.
* Port Angeles, $30, in memory of C.V. Beatty.
* Port Angeles, $100, in honor of Grace, Jay, Gail and Frances.
* Port Ludlow, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Sequim, $100.
* Port Angeles, $376.
* Port Angeles, $35.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $100 (honoree noted with donation, but contributor requested that the name not be printed).
* Sequim, $25.
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Port Angeles, $130.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Port Townsend, $50.
* Port Angeles, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Sequim, $25, in honor of my grandmother.
* Sequim, $50, in memory of Ruth Broger.
* Sequim, $100.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Sequim, $50.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Port Angeles, $370, in honor of John, Mom and Dad.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $25, To the greatest parents — “The Cherubs.”
* Port Angeles, $25.
* Sequim, $25.
* Sequim, $25.
* Port Angeles, $50.
* Port Angeles, $10.
* Port Angeles, $30.
* Port Hadlock, $30.
* *Karen and Jim Rogers, Port Angeles.
* *J.J. Phelps, Port Ludlow.
* *Bryce and Gail Fish, Sequim.
* *Richard C. and Gayle M. Larson, Sequim, in memory of Mac Ruddell.
* *Bob and Shirley Widdicombe, Sequim.
* *Mark and Diane Schildknecht, Port Angeles.
* *Scott Younkin and Gail Hebrank, Port Angeles.
* *Marie Cauvel, Port Angeles, in memory of Neta and Orvel Cauvel.
* *Dave and Ann Salmon, Sequim, in memory of Ralph Leon and Ethel Salmon.
* *Nadine Fuller, Forks.
* *Erwin and Diane Jones, Sequim.
* *Bero and Joyce Mestayer, Sequim.
* *Miles and Mary Nesbitt, Sequim.
* *Pat and John Norton, Port Angeles.
* *Betty Gimmestad, Carlsborg.
* *Monty and Gerry Crouch, Sequim, in memory of our parents.
* *Bill and Carol Jensen, Sequim.
* *Wayne and Tracy Fitzwater, Port Angeles.
* *Ray and Harriet Buchmann, Port Angeles, in memory of Olgar and Bittie Sandberg.
* *Richard Graf, Port Angeles.
* *Katie and Orval Howe, Sequim, in memory of Mildred Seiler.
*=Denotes amount of donation is private.
