By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – More than 300 supporters of the Tucker Community Foundation gathered for the 26th annual Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party on July 3 at Canaan Valley State Park Resort. Folks donned red, white and blue, celebrating the 4th of July, and joining together for a worthy cause. The evening included fellowship and fun, and the opportunity to win some cash and prizes while helping others.
Tucker Community Foundation Director Robert Burns said they sell 250 tickets for the event.
“We expect about 350 people attended the event,” Burns said. “The big prize is $5,000, and we will give away other cash prizes and door prizes. We also have a drawing for the Totally Tucker Basket worth more than $2,300, a Greenbrier package for a three-night stay worth more than $1,200 and a 55-inch television with a year’s worth of Netflix Cards.”
Burns said the monies raised at the USBP were originally used for the operating cost of the Foundation.
“Now that we are little bit larger, the profits from this event go to our grants and scholarships,” Burns said. “This is our 26th year for the celebration.”
The theme for the event was ‘getting back to our roots,’ and table decorations, designed by Penny Ellison of Mountain Mist Florist included trees and plenty of red, white and blue.
Donna Patrick said the USBP is ‘the party of the year.’
“Amy Barb is my co-hostess for tonight’s celebration,” Patrick said. “This is the 26th year of giving away money and prizes and we have lots of new faces this year. People love the Tucker Community Foundation, and this celebration is one way we put a face on that Foundation.”
Patrick’s husband, Dr. Tom Patrick, started the event. According to Tucker Community Foundation Development Director Diane Hinkle, Patrick was a much beloved dentist in the area who served as emcee for years. She said the party goes on as both a fundraiser for the Tucker Community Foundation as well as a tribute to him.
Barb said she co-chairs the event because she is so proud of the Foundation.
“We want to spread the word about the good work of the Tucker Community Foundation,” Barb said. “We thank those who have endowed funds, donated to the Foundation or helped in any way with the Foundation. I have helped with the dinner for 20 years.”
Anna Patrick served as emcee for the evening, following in her father’s footsteps. “When the Foundation was created, they needed to find a way to fund the day to day expenses of running the office. This event is kind of the brain child of my father. He thought the 4th of July weekend would be perfect because so many folks are in town. So he decided to get everyone together for an elimination dinner to raise money. He wanted it to be a big, festive party where people could get together while raising funds for the Foundation. He became known as ‘the emcee that was larger than life.’ He put so much to the event and spent so much time preparing for the event, right down to finding the jokes he would tell at the Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party.”
Former Tucker County CVB Executive Director Bill Smith said he drove more than 1,100 miles to revisit the area and attend the USBP.
“This was on our agenda of things to do as well as attend Mountaineer Days and see the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra on Sunday,” Smith said. “We are spending a lot of time in Florida, but Tucker County will always be my home.”
Smith said he was the emcee of the USBP for three years. “This is a great event with a worthwhile cause. I have attended at least 20 of the 26 years of this event. Dr. Patrick, who came up with this idea, was a wonderful man and his legacy carries on every 4th of July.”
Jane Barb said she has attended the better part of the USBP events. “I don’t remember missing any of them. I enjoy the sociability of the event. You see people you have not seen for months or months or even years.”
Delegate Randy Smith, R-Preston, said he enjoys attending the USBP. “This is my third year attending the event. It’s a great cause – they raise a lot of money and they give a lot of money. We really enjoy it and it’s fun now that I know most of the folks here.”
Delegate Denise Campbell, D-Randolph said she enjoys the Tucker Community Foundation USBP. “The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday. I have become friends with many people from Tucker County and I enjoy coming. It’s a lot of fun.”
“The Tucker Community Foundation does great work,” Campbell said. “I am amazed by the work they do and it is an awesome idea. It is a great organization to support. They help a large group of folks, not only in Tucker County, but many of the surrounding counties as well.”
Raffle winners include: 55 inch Vizio Smart TV with a year’s worth of Netflix gift cards, Janette Basile; three-night stay at the Greenbrier Resort with a $400 gift card for food and activities, Amy and Sam Goughnour; the Total Tucker Treasure Chest with $2,300 in gift certificates, art and other items donated by Tucker County businesses, Marcia Lemon.
Elimination drawing winners include $125 winners Lois Nelson, Phillips Kolsun, Lucas Cooper, David Miller, Tom Kalog, Elaine George, John and Jody Logar, Tyler Waldo, Patrick Kotten, Michael Goss and Bob Metzger. Other cash winners include Ron LaNeve, $200; Dreama Gatens, $300; Ronnie and Diane Beall, $400; Bill Phillips, $2,750 and the auction ticket team of Calvin Dearborn, Murry Dearborn, Dave Lambert, Keith Bishop, Milan Nypl, Dan Bucher, Matt Shockley, Patrick Darlington and Riley Barb, who split $2,750.
Hinkle said investing in the Tucker Community Foundation has its advantages. “Investing in the Tucker Community Foundation keeps money local and the control of that money local,” Hinkle said. “The donor determines what their donation supports and the Foundation administers it accordingly. The Foundation serves eight counties and donors can specify the geographic area for their donation.”
Another advantage of investing in the Tucker Community Foundation is very low administrative costs. “Endowed funds are invested for growth and income, and pooled with other funds to maximize returns. The historical value of the original donation is preserved for perpetuity; only the income earned is paid out for grants and scholarships. Administration costs are 1 percent of the total market value. And the Tucker Community Foundation offers transparency and accountability. We have 26 years of experience and a solid reputation throughout the region and state. You can see your dollars at work, making a difference. There are also significant tax incentives for donors.”
Hinkle said the USBP was a great success for 2015. “Attendance was excellent. Canaan Valley Resort did an excellent job hosting such a large crowd. The dinner was especially good as was the service.
“The event raised close to $14,000 for unrestricted grants and scholarships that will benefit the region we serve – so Uncle Sam has a lot to smile about. We appreciate the continued strong support of the community.”
Continued support for the Uncle Sam’s Birthday Party is provided by Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Grant County Bank, Miners & Merchants Bank and Mountain Valley Bank N.A.
