Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, March 23, 2012
www.issaquahreporter.com
MEASURING UP
Winners named at 11th annual SAMMI ceremony
Students take ownership of foreign aid fundraiser
BY KEVIN ENDEJAN KENDEJAN@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
BY CELESTE GRACEY
Jeff Mitchell isn’t fond of being associated with the word “hero.” But that is undoubtedly what he is to thousands of western Washington service men, women and their families. It was also the reason the Sammamish resident and president of Operation Bald Eagle was honored Friday at the 11th annual SAMMI Awards Ceremony with the Unsung Hero award. “When I heard about it and I had to go interview for it, I told my wife I don’t know if I want to do it because it’s not about me,” Mitchell said. Mitchell first started Operation Bald Eagle in June of 2009 as a way to support military service men and women, along with police and fire fighters across the region. He focused on building care packages to send overseas, along with supporting grieving families who lost loved ones in the line of duty — something he named Project Picking up the Pieces. “If I’m having a bad day, there’s nothing in comparison to helping somebody else,” said Mitchell, who also works full time as an operations manager at Verizon. In its third year, Operation Bald Eagle continues to gain momentum. When it started, the organization sponsored 60 troops. The number is now at more than 1,000.
CGRACEY@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
W
hen teachers at Cascade Ridge began organizing a fundraiser for African children, they wanted to be clear that the fifth graders should try to earn the money they donated.
With the school centered in an affluent community, it would be easy for parents to open their wallets to reach the week’s $2,000 goal. So the students organized bake sales and completed extra chores for pay. By the end of the week they raised about $5,000 plus an anonymous $1,000 matching donation. “We were brought to tears,” said teacher Anjuli Bates. “They put in a ton of creativity.” In the common room at Cascade Ridge, students wore hair nets and aprons as they took turns dumping ingredients into bags. A couple tables kept a rhythm, chanting, “lentils, spice, chicken, rice.” Another team then sealed the bags, each containing enough food for six meals. In addition to the thousands of meals students packed, the money also went to paying for education and medicine for those who would receive the food. Children of the Nations International, the organization behind the fundraiser, brings a holistic approach to its aid. For the students, seeing the food before it ships out creates a stronger connection to the need. “You work harder, because you know they’re depending on you,” said student Jacqui Verrue. “They’re starving and don’t have
Citizens honored
SEE SAMMIS, 10
Jacqui Verrue helped raise money for a foreign aid fundraiser by washing dogs with two classmates. The fifth-grade class then packaged meals to be sent abroad. CELESTE GRACEY, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter the resources we do.” It’s important to give back, classmate Elena Yerges added. “I know how fortunate I am.” Yerges, Verrue and classmate Sarah Schnebele organized a dog wash to help raise money. Together they cleaned 13 dogs in their parent’s bathtub, raising $208. The idea came after too
many people pursued the bake sale angle. The program helps widen student’s perspective of the world, especially with how tangible the event is, said teacher Erin Perea. “They’re realizing for the first time that it feels good to give back.” This is the fourth year the school has hosted this event.
In the past students raised about $1,000-$1,500, but when they heard about the matching donation, they set a goal to raise $2,000. They didn’t realize how much money the kids raised until Friday morning, when in one day they brought in $3,500, Perea said. “We were absolutely
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