Cally’s Helping Hands raises $48,956 for local non-profits
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
November 15, 2022
The Cally’s Helping Hands Nonprofit Appreciation Event was held on Tuesday, November 15th in the Lovatt Room of the Pinedale Library. This year’s event was held as a fundraiser for 30 participating non-profits as part of the Pinedale Half Marathon race and fundraiser held in September.
Local organizations' fundraising events raised $25,676 which was matched by $23,280 in funds for a total of $48,956 raised and redistributed back to those nonprofit organizations.
The matching funds were provided by Mike and Tami Crosson ($10,000), two anonymous donors ($5,000 each), and Pinedale Half Marathon ($5,000).
Sponsors for the event were: Jak’s Salon and Boutique, Sue’s Catering, Nested West, Obo’s Market and Deli, Country Lane Liquor, Southwest Sublette County Pioneers Senior Center, Ridley’s Family Markets, Heart & Soul Café, Pinedale Aquatic Center, Sublette County Libraries, and Ken & Julie Konicek.
The announcement was made during the program that a new foundation has been formed to serve as the umbrella organization for the Pinedale Half Marathon. The new organization is called Foundation 23. The organization, with the help of participating nonprofits, together will raise funds for the Pinedale Half Marathon and all the nonprofits each year. The concept is patterned after Old Bill’s Fun Run in Jackson, Wyoming.
This year’s participating nonprofits were:
Boulder Community Center
Bridges Out of Poverty Sublette County
Children’s Discovery Center
Children’s Learning Center
Fishing for the Fight
Friends of PAC
Friends of the Bridger-Teton
Green River Outreach for Wilderness Foundation (Camp GROW)
Green River Rendezvous Pageant Association
Green River Valley Museum
Green River Valley Program of the Jackson Hole Land Trust
Happy Endings Animal Rescue (HEAR)
LOBA Memorial (Local Outreach for the Benefit of Animals
M.E.S.A. Therapeutic Horsemanship, Inc.
Main Street Pinedale
McKenzie Meningitis Foundation
Pinedale Community Food Basket
Pinedale Fine Arts Council (PFAC)
Pinedale Half Marathon
Pinedale Preschool
Pinedale Theatre Company
Sexual Assault Family Violence Task Force (SAFV)
Sublette Center
Sublette County 4-H Foundation
Sublette County Historical Society/Museum of the Mountain Man
Sublette County Library Foundation
Sublette Trails Association
Tip Top Search and Rescue
Wind River Skate Club
Winter Range Foundation
The Pinedale Half Marathon began in 2004 and takes place each year in September. It includes three events: a half marathon, 10K, and a one-mile fun walk/run. The course for the half marathon and 10K go along the scenic route with the beautiful view of Fremont Lake. The event has up to 350 participants each year. It has been held continuously since it began, with the exception of 2020 when it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In years past, Cally’s Helping Hands has been a volunteer appreciation and recognition dinner. Each year, individual members of the community donate tens of thousands of volunteer hours to help local nonprofit organizations. 2022 is the first year transitioning the Pinedale Half Marathon into a fundraising event.
Cally’s Helping Hands is named in memory of Cally McKee who passed away in 2014. She was a mother, sister, colleague and friend. She saw what was possible and made it happen. She encouraged us, supported us, and challenged us to dream bigger, plan better, and do more. Cally volunteered. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to. Her legacy will continue inspiring us to give back, pay it forward, and lend our helping hands wherever they are needed.
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