Letter to the Editor: Rotary Club Thanks Community for Fulfilling Gift Requests

Every year, the Rotary Club of Edmonds provides gift-giving trees to support the CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children) and the Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program.

These programs provide court-appointed special advocates for children who are victims or alleged victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse or neglect. This past year, the list doubled in size and we received more than 367 requests. 

Miraculously, we filled ALL requests!

We would like to thank the  staff and supporters of Harbor Square Athletic Club for taking the lion's share of the gift requests. We also wish to thank the following: fellow Rotarian Michael Kealey and his colleagues from Windermere; Dennis Gallagher, his crew and patrons of Gallaghers' Where-U-Brew; Dr Jacky, his staff and patients of Perrinville Family Dentistry; Kathy Dittmark, the staff, parents and teens of Meadowdale High School; and of course, our fellow Rotarians of Rotary Club of Edmonds.

Special thanks should be given to Richard Mietzner and the Windermere agents for giving large monetary donations that allowed us to buy 60 $25 gift certificates. Everyone who donated should feel special pride in being the angel guardians for these children  and teens. The generosity of everyone was overwhelming to those of us that worked on this program ... especially since these are tough economic times.

Happy Holidays! 

Don Ptacek, Chris and Clayton Steiner, Diane Buckshnis, Lori Parsons
Edmonds