A Resounding Shout-Out to Benefit Organizers/Donors!

This has been rolling around my li'l pea brain for a week now, has been a work in progress for several days, and I finally said, "That's it! I simply have to devote some space here and try to acknowledge all the people who worked so hard to make Bob's benefit such a wondrous event before my head implodes!" (And, this may be an exercise in futility, as each day, I learn of a new donor, a new person who helped out, hear a funny story . . . if I forget someone—please!—first of all forgive me, and second, somebody let me know so I can add an addendum to this. . .)

We are still in awe with everything that transpired, still enveloped in the love and will be for a long time to come. . .There are several people and businesses who worked sofa king hard together, behind the scenes, as well as front and center, to organize the event. They did such an amazing job and I know it wasn't easy, wasn't without stress and a few glitches along the way. They sacrificed an extraordinary amount of time, dinero and effort from their own busy lives to planning the event . . . and the donors. Holy WOW! I still can't believe all the (excuse me . . .) SHIT that was offered up! And I mean "shit" in the best way possible! Not only from individuals and businesses we know, but from complete and utter strangers—I'm so in awe, I still shake my head in disbelief . . .

But when February 13th arrived, the day fell together beautifully! To the casual observer, the day went off perfectly, without a hitch, which is testament to the knock-out job everyone did . . . from the venue, to the food, drink, silent auction, musical entertainment, door prizes, kid's room, face painting, Santa Claus, bake sale down to the bitter end—distributing the goods. . . orchestrating all that is enough to make my head spin! There is no particular order in which sponsors/donors are listed—just taken from my messy notes!

Benefit Organizers/Major Sponsors

Jill Hildebrandt

Gretchen Hildebrandt

Kathy Cullen

Penny and Jim Andrzejek

Nancy Wilkins

Lisa Holland

Julie Barnes

Jodi and Ian Kramer

Mike Wolowicz

Throwbacks Bar and Grill

Jim and Lynn Surdyk/Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop

Jack Goldenberg and Rachel Goldenberg/Quality Wines and Spirits

Southern Wines and Spirits/JJ Taylor—beer

Joe McClay—wine

Elite Apparel—t-shirts

Staus Photography

Mes Amis le Spa

Uncle Chunk—music

Off The Record—music

5th Street Bridge—music

Ian Kramer—music

Brittany and Deb Moreno—face painting

Silent Auction Donors—Businesss/Organizations

Surdyk's Liquor and Cheese Shop

Quality Wines and Spirits

Mes Amis le Spa

Southern Wines and Spirits/JJ Taylor

Bob Dollarhide

First Grand Liquor

Thomas Liquors

Keegan's Iris Pub

National Cameral Exchange

Staus Photography

Custom Embellishments

Seoul Salon

Lisa Hurlen Photography

Embody Health

Ed Mays—Gem Den

Rolf Moe

Bill Abrahamson

Suzanne Bunkers

Obrigaderio Brazilian fudge

St. James Catholic Mission Sewers

Gina and Scott Olson—Olson Optical

1st National Bank of St. James

BoDeans

Doolittle's Woodfire Grill

S-Squared Treats

Thomasina Cashew Brittle

St. Croix Casino and Hotel

MN Landscape Arboretum

Stillwater Olive Oil Company

Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel

Crofut Winery

Snappy Dog Salsa

Bella Pamella

The St. Paul Hotel

Cannon River Winery

Valley Vineyards

Infinity Art Glass Studio and Gallery

Worker B

Old Log Theater

Grecco's on the St. Croix

Elite Apparel

Goose and Duck Smackers

United Brokerage, Diageo Brands

Pacifier

Green Mill Restaurants

Dunn Bros. Coffee

Punch Pizza

Chipotle

Panera

Bruegger's Bagels

Silent Auction Donors—Individuals

Penny and Jim Andrzjek

Santa Dan Lundeen

Pat Sjoquist

Larry and Karen Curry

Mary Lingert

Lisa Harrison

Clarence Smith and Denise Kettelberger

Mary and Leah Kemp

Jeanie Ferenze

Cyndi Raymond

Chad TenKley

Michael Callahan

Kristi Zellmann

Karen Mulder

Allison Stoner

Steve Recksiedler and family

Sonya Ludi

Kelsee Hayes

Bob and Jen Patrow

Mary Sterzinger

John Becker

Jim Andrzejek's poker club

Marlys and Norman Emerson

Margaret Maire

Cindy and Paul Torkelson

Sue and Bill Mohr

Marlin and Gladys Ziemer

Glen and Joanne Junker

Elaine Johnson family

Sherri Poulson

Dan and Therese Hall

Lois and LeRoy Bruns

Susie Carlson

Barb Boemer

Laurie Sieve

Schmidt family

Eileen Fredrich

Gretchen Hildebrandt

Lisa Bierker

Gil Staus

Jennine Duda

Bill Gropel

Dennis Lutzwick

Bob and Wendi Bodegheimer

Jane Gherke

Kurt, Teresa Hildebrandt and kids

Al and Jayne Verhelst-Arndt

Cami Becker

Andrea Noel

I know there were many gifted bakers contributing time and talent to the bake sale, but I have no idea whom or how many, so please accept my heart-felt apologies for not addressing you all by name! Rumor has it the bake sale items damn near vanished into thin air in no-time—if it weren't for my dear friend, Julie, snagging a plate of monster cookies for me, I would have missed out entirely! A huge shout-out to all the talented contributors to that part of the auction!

Again, if I missed anyone, it is not intentional and I apologize profusely . . . I wish I could thank each and every person who attended the event, as well as everyone who was with us in spirit, and for the donations to Bob's benefit account, as well . . . but there are only so many hours in the day and already, I'm writing well into the wee hours, trying to get this up before too much time has gone by . . . I hope each and everyone who has been following Bob's journey knows how deeply we feel your love, your support, your prayers, encouragement, all you send our way . . . as I've said before, even in the midst of shit, we are blessed. . .

xxoo to all! j