September 22nd Update: Wow, thank you all so much!

The following is an update from Matt:


This is starting to sound like a broken record, but there is just so much to be thankful for right now. Truly in the past two and half months I've been floored by all the support and people who have come out of the woodwork to help me. First off I have to thank my mom and dad for being who they are, kind and generous people themselves. I think the turn out for the Scott Valley fundraiser is largely due to them.

The fundraiser was a huge success, an awesome time, and an unbelievable turn out. I had a great time and I was completely blown away! Thanks to everyone that was there, especially Diane Pomeroy for setting this up, organizing it, and growing it from nothing into the most amazing blessing for me. So many people to thank, and still so hard to type, Mark did a great job of capturing some on the website so I'll borrow from there for now. Thank you so much for all the auction items and for all of you bidding on them. This is a huge step for me and hopefully a huge step toward me taking some steps again.

The Siskiyou Daily News captured some of the event really well I think and they promise to have more coverage soon, check out their site and thank them for the coverage!

http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/homepage/x2023997782/-Scott-Valley-loves-the-Thomas-family

We got the minivan and used it to haul me to the fundraiser, it's so much easier than the previous methods of strapping me into someone's car and then loading my wheelchair into a van or truck. Quite a process it used to be, now it's one car and no transfers! I love it, thank you all for making the van possible!

Thanks Brian for coming along to the fundraiser, above and beyond the call of duty, I'm so glad we met you at Providence Hospital you have been a life saver in more ways than one!

Thanks to Mark Peaty for providing the website support for the event and the following summary of the event:

Kudos and thanks to the following individuals and businesses who helped us to quickly organize and successfully host this fundraiser:

A huge thanks to Diane Pomeroy who’s energy and enthusiasm made all of this possible.

Thanks to Bob and Linda Ward for donating food, serving items, utensils, coffee pots, and many more items from their restaurant. Their expertise and experience are really appreciated. We ran out of food, which is an indicator of a good event where many more people showed up than we anticipated, but only because we ordered for 250 not because Bob and Linda didn’t bring enough.

Thanks to Etna Brewery for donating the beer. It was a beautifully clear pilsner with a nice head and a great taste. There were cases of empty wine bottles left so I think the wine sales went well also. I’ll update on who donated the wine.

Thanks to the guys that handled the serving of the drinks.

Thanks to Cliff Munson for his expert auctioneering abilities. He kept the crowd entertained while he gently squeezed just a little bit more out of each bid. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thanks to the many, many people and high school students who spent most of the day in the park helping to load, unload, carry, and set up the many items that were needed.

Thanks to Dan Kiep for keeping the garbage cans managed and keeping the restrooms clean.

Thanks to Mike Theofanides for placing lighting up in the trees and around the patio.

Thanks to Marion Stealman and the Bluegrass Festival for the loan of the rope lighting.

Thanks to Rick Perkins for the loan of his personal PA system.

Thanks to Corky Small and KSYC 103.9 for creating some public service announcements to help advertise.

Thanks to Daniel Webster and Pioneer Press for all the free press that was given about this cause and event.

Scott Valley and friends greatly exceeded all expectations on their generousity and love for the Thomas family.

by Mark Peaty