It was so nice to see each one of you who attended the "1st Annual Dexter Gabbard Memorial Golf Tournament" and the "6th Annual Elder Fiesta". Thanks to everyone who donated cash and/or supplies to our 2009 charity recipient, "All Children's Hospital".
Thanks also to our corporate sponsors:
Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) for $1000
CONSONUS Technologies for $500
IBI Synergy Inc. for $300
Drummond, Wehle & Ross for $200
Fairway Leasing for $100
Black & Decker for a corporate match of $1,000
Boston Scientific for a corporate match of $1,000
As Grant Burrow mentioned at the party, our goal was to raise $2,500..............we raised $12,775 and a carload full of toys, stuffed animals, coloring books, puzzles, games, crayons, markers, etc. for this great cause!! It wouldn't have been possible without you all. Dexter would be very proud and is in heaven smiling down on all of us for being so caring and giving.
On Friday, October 16th we were able to visit All Children's Hospital, give them our donation and see the areas where Dexter used to volunteer. Attached is an e-mail with some pictures of the donation event. Many thanks to Kathleen Overchuck & Randy Rauch, with "American Video and American Broadcast Talent" for donating their time and services to capture the event on film for each of you to see in the near future!! You can learn more about them at www.americanbroadcasttalent.com
Thank you again so much,
John & Bonny Elder
Please see a few comments about Dexter below.
A quote from a friend says it all..."Dex was always able to put a smile on your face, make the room burst with laughter, or just be there when you needed a solid friend. With his endless creativity, he had a unique way of turning the ordinary into extraordinary. In hectic and challenging times, Dex was an inspiration to step back and savor our relationships with family and friends, appreciating the things that are truly important in life. " (friend Mark Timbario)
"Dexter treated a stranger as special as he treated his friend. He made such an impression on his friends that made us all want to be a little more like him.
He would spend every Tuesday giving to the children at All Children's Hospital, whether it was reading them a book or telling them a funny joke while wheeling them to their treatment location. He always had a smile on his face and gave the children something happy to think about. He saw the beauty of the world and all that it has to offer, turned the ordinary into the extraordinary, made a stranger feel like a long lost friend whose life course was to ultimately to meet up with you, to be inspired, to make others laugh, to help those in need, and for you to cherish the relationships that are most important in your life…that is our friend Dexter, a friend with a child like quality and name, who left this world at the age of 41. It is no mistake that his life journey led him to a place that needed someone with these beautiful qualities, All Children’s Hospital. He was proud of his work and we are proud to have All Children's Hospital as the recipient of our donations this year." (friend Therese Kalmus)
