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Judy’s Party: Nonprofits get grants

Judy’s Party is a party with a purpose: make projects possible for nonprofits in Silverton and Mount Angel.

Started three years ago as a way to honor the late Judy Schmidt for her dedication to her community, Judy’s Party is staged by the Silverton Chamber of Commerce and other nonprofit organizations. An advocate for many nonprofit organizations and the director of volunteer and community services for Silverton Health, Judy passed away on Oct. 1, 2014.

To honor her memory and to inspire others to volunteer, her friends and family started the annual event. Last year guests spent an evening of dancing, enjoying tasty local food and bidding on auction items, raising $12,320 to donate to local nonprofits.

“Judy’s Party is just another example of how supportive people in our community are,” Silverton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacy Palmer said. “I am thankful for everyone who attended the second annual party and made it possible to help local nonprofits.”

Palmer said donations were made to Silverton Friends of Music for $350 for band uniforms; St. Joseph Shelter for $1,000 for facility improvements; Silverton Together for the community calendar; Silverton Indoor Park for $500 for play equipment; Silverton Lions Club for $750 for a reservoir renovation project; the Christmas Dinner Group for $250 for meal supplies and Silverton Zenith Women’s Club for $1,000 so they can purchase shoes for the Tree of Giving program.

“Just looking at where the money is going to makes me proud,” Palmer said. “Because of Judy’s Party, we are helping put shoes on kids’ feet to giving $750 for safety equipment for the Silverton Junior Baseball Organization. The proceeds from this party allows us to help many people from all walks of life in our community.”

There are several donations that the community will get to see first-hand, including $500 for Silverton High School’s NASA Project. On Aug. 21, Silverton High students will participate in a nationwide science project to document the total solar eclipse. Students will build and launch a high altitude balloon which will gather data and record the eclipse from 90,000 feet above the earth.

“We also donated $1,000 to the Silverton Farmer’s Market Power of Produce or P.O.P Kids Program,” Palmer said. The program allows children who sign up to receive $2 in tokens to spend on fresh fruit, vegetables or food plants.

The GeerCrest Farm and Historical Society received $250 for farm tour scholarships; Center Stage $870 for LED spotlights; ASAP $500 for after school program needs; Silverton Garden Club $500 for garden tour promotion; Habitat for Humanity $500 for a Silverton home build; Mount Angel Youth Sports $750 for field improvements; Mount Angel Senior Center $500 for a refrigerator for its meal site; Silverton Area Seniors $600 for AV equipment; Kiwanis Club of Silverton $750 for Kids Projects and Safety Compass $250 for domestic violence counseling.

Palmer said, there were 21 nonprofit organizations whose requests could not be met including Silverton Area Community Aid, The Oregon Garden, Silver Fox Foundation, Wednesday Night Dinners and Silverton Arts Association.

With plans of making each Judy’s Party bigger and more profitable, Palmer said the key to achieving that goal is inviting people to attend the third annual Judy’s Party – A Celebration of Love, Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Mount Angel Festhalle.

“What made Judy such an amazing friend and community volunteer was she was ready to lend a hand whenever and wherever needed,” Palmer said. “I am hoping more people in the Silverton and Mount Angel communities will make plans to attend the third annual Judy’s Party so we can provide funds to all organizations that ask.”

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