Editor,

Thanks to the many donors and attendees that made our Instant Wine Cellar that was held on Sept. 20, a huge success.

This event raised $9,528 through admission, raffle tickets and a generous matching gift from the Island Thrift board of directors.

The community overwhelmed us with their generosity for the event. We were able to get all the wine and beer for the “Instant Wine Cellar” and “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall” raffle donated by United Way Board Members, Flyers’ Restaurant and Brewery, Whidbey Beer Works, Bayleaf and few generous supporters of United Way.

A Wine refrigerator was donated by Mark Brown and Kathi Phillips and three wine tours for eight were donated by Spoiled Dog Winery, Holmes Harbor and Whidbey Island Winery.

Seven restaurants participated as our “BITES.” They were Cameron’s Café, Elk’s Lodge, Fraser’s, Flyers Restaurant and Brewery, Louie-G’s, Whidbey General Hospital and Yummies’ Eat and Treats.

Our “SIPS” donated their wine and beer.

MoJo Filter played for the dancing pleasure of our guest and was sponsored by Whidbey Island Bank.

We had the honor of having many “Celebrity Servers.” They were Mark Brown, Island County sheriff; Linda Gipson, Whidbey General Hospital’s chief nursing officer; Jackie Henderson, Island County human services director and Coupeville Town Council; Jill Johnson-Pfeiffer, Island County commissioner; Jeff McMahan, Walmart manager; Joe Mosolino, Windermere Real Estate, Freeland; Kathi Phillips, ReMax Acorn Properties; Joel Servatius, Oak Harbor City Council; Jim Slowik, Navy League president and People’s Bank; and Tom Tomasino, Whidbey General Hospital’s CEO.

Stephanie Smith of Wells Fargo Bank added her humor as our “mistress of ceremony.”

Wonderful background music during the first hour of the event was provided by Lowell Sipes, North Whidbey Middle School.

Much planning went into the event and could not have happened without Jim Cloore, Michelle Curry, Michele McKenna, Bill Weinsheimer, Kathi Phillips and the United Way of Island County board of directors.

The event was such a success as a fundraiser that we are already planning for next year.

We truly appreciate all those involved for their support of United Way of Island County and this community event.

Cathy Niiro, executive director

United Way of Island County