2008 Fundraiser A Success!

SCI Alaska Chapter thanks everyone who made our 2008 banquest a success!

The 2008 SCI Alaska Chapter annual fundraiser once again set new records.  Starting with a better than usual attendance on Friday, the 2008 fund-raiser went on to set new records in overall attendance and net dollars raised.  The real story of the 2008 Banquet though was the unveiling of SCI Alaska Chapter’s new Disabled Veterans program.

Organized by President Ron Haberman and Board Member Dave Wood, the DAV program granted special hunting and fishing trips to wounded warriors who were judged on an essay they wrote about hunting and conservation.  With hunts donated by Royston Wright of Okatjeru Hunting Farm in Namibia, Scott and Ruby of Hollembaek of Alaska Interior Game Ranch and fishing trips donated by Dan McDowell of Last Frontier Fishing Charters and Bob Valanas on his boat the “Miss Lee”, the stage was set for an extraordinary evening.

The awardees of the event were Steve Stanford, Aaron Owen, Cody Schneider and Jonathon Strain.  The show of respect for these American Heroes was overwhelming.  While Chapter President Ron Haberman and U.S Senator Ted Stevens presented the awards, not a single person sat down during the half hour long ceremony.  The out-pouring of respect rippled through the crowd and afterwards we received numerous comments about the special nature of the program.

Afterwards many individuals came up to thank Ron and Dave for presenting such a tribute to our nation’s servicemen and women.  Several asked how they could donate to the effort and we are thrilled to note that Bill Burton from Kodiak has donated a bison hunt to the program for the 2009 banquet and Royston Wright is donating an African Safari again.  We also received huge support from AMVETS Post #9 who along with Board Member Bill Fisher helped pay Mr. Stanford’s plane ticket to Africa.  Of special note, AMVETS Post # 9 has already made a sizeable donation to the 2009 effort and we are looking forward to developing a great working relationship with them to honor our Wounded Warriors.