| Area mayors will be roof-bound during unique fund-raiser |
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| Wednesday, 26 August 2009 | ||
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Life Editor Seven area mayors will face a tall task next month when they participate in a unique event that’s designed to raise money to support mental health services.
“We’ve set a goal of approximately of $18,000,” said Patty Halvorson, CCFFR’s development manager. “We’ve asked each of the mayors to help us raise about $2,500.” Blaine Mayor Tom Ryan, Fridley Mayor Scott Lund, Ham Lake Mayor Paul Meunier, Columbia Heights Mayor Gary Peterson, Coon Rapids Mayor Tim Howe and Andover Mayor Mike Gamache will participate in the roof-raiser, which was organized initially last year by Spring Lake Park Mayor Bob Nelson. Nelson heads to the roof first the weekend of Sept. 12-13, she said. Consecutive shifts by Lund, Meunier Peterson, Howe, Gamache and Ryan will follow. Armed with their cells phones and computers, each mayor will be contacting businesses and individuals for contributions to help fund CCFFR’s programs. The mayors won’t be without shelter, according to Halvorson. Gander Mountain’s Blaine store at 10650 Baltimore St. N.E., is donating a tent. Halvorson said budget cuts have affected the more than 4,000 individuals CCFFR serves annually. The organization is ramping up its fund-raising again this year as a response. CCFFR funding sources include Anoka County, school districts, grants, foundations, third party payments, youth intervention services, United Way, in-kind and corporate donations. “We are trying to build up our individual and corporate donor base because government funding is becoming less reliable,” Halvorson said. According to CCFFR data, the organization started to see a decline in charitable gambling donations from Lions clubs, VFWs, Kiwanis and area tribes in 2007, but it got worse after the smoking ban went into effect. In 2008, charitable gambling donations to CCFFR were cut by more than 80 percent, Halvorson said. Most of the people CCFFR is trying to reach with its second roof-raiser event aren’t traditional supporters, she added. “We want to reach people through the mayors,” she said. “Last year, we obtained 50 new individual donors and $5,000 from Mayor Nelson’s initial fund-raising efforts.” According to Halvorson, CCFFR wants to be able to continue to provide mental health services to everyone who needs them no matter what their ability to pay. Donations can be made online at ccffr.org or by making a check to CCFFR RoofRaiser and sending it to CCFFR, 7954 University Ave., Fridley, MN 55432, Halvorson said. For more information about this year’s roof-raiser or how to donate, contact Halvorson at 763-230-7836 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.ccffr.org . Tim Hennagir is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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