Archive for year: 2018

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Sunshine Fest: Last Minute Reminders

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We can’t believe Sunshine Fest is already THIS SATURDAY! Here’s what you need to know.

The event is at the Ralph Engelstad Arena. You can use the Southwest (Student) Entrance. Parking is free. The doors will open at 8:30am and the event will kick off around 9. The first 300 people will get a swag bag.

Once you finish your laps, stick around as we’ll be announcing a few awards, including the More Sunshine Team Award! Our four prize winners for the teams with the most participants and most funds raised will be announced sometime the following week, as it takes a little time to calculate those results.

Online registration is available until Thursday at midnight. We hope to see you there!

Until then,
#ShareTheSunshine

Sunshine Fest: Activities

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It puts a huge smile on our faces when we hear people say they have fun at Sunshine Fest. Obviously the whole point of it is to raise money, but we also enjoy entertaining people. We’re changing things up this year a bit, as there won’t be a Health & Wellness Fair. However, there will be plenty of other fun activities!

The Kid Zone is always a popular favorite. There will be face painting and raffle prizes. Elvis will also be walking around the concourse. If you see him, don’t be afraid to ask for a picture! And of course, we will have a photo booth and photographer there!

We hope you’re excited!

Until then,
#ShareTheSunshine

Crooked Pint Give-Back Event

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Have you tried the new place in town yet? Crooked Pint Ale House is famous for their Lucys (stuffed burgers)! Give them a try Monday, January 15th. Dine between 5pm-9pm and Crooked Pint will donate 15% of your bill to us and the Sunshine Hospitality Home project!

Check out the rest of their menu on their website, and trust us, your mouth will be watering.

Must present voucher at time of payment.

voucher

Sunshine Hospitality Home

Sunshine Fest: Fundraise for Furniture

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Proceeds from every Sunshine Fest go toward charitable causes in our community. For the last several years, they have gone toward the Sunshine Hospitality Home project. (To learn more about the Hospitality Home, explore around our website.) Since we are now in the construction phase (yay!) we are focusing our efforts on raising funds for furniture, fixtures, and equipment that will go in the Home.

As you can imagine, it takes a lot to furnish a three-story Home like this. Tables, sofas, chairs, lamps, TV’s, etc… All of that adds up to a little over $350,000.

So put on your walking (or running) shoes, and ask people to sponsor your mileage! We’ve created a packet that makes it super easy to go around to your neighbors, friends, and family and ask them to donate as you do laps around the Ralph. We even created a couple of incentives to reward those who choose to grab a fundraising packet. If you collect $500 or more from the generous people you asked, your name or your team’s name will be included on the donor wall in the main lobby of the Sunshine Hospitality Home! Also, the teams that raise the most money (per team member) will be awarded some amazing prizes!

If you would like to receive a fundraising packet, please contact the office at 701.738.2462 or e-mail theresa@sunshinememorial.org.

We look forward to seeing you at Sunshine Fest, January 27th, and for the Home to open sometime this year!

Until then,
#ShareTheSunshine

Shannon "Sunshine" Larson

Sunshine Fest: Shannon’s Story

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Happy New Year!

Sunshine Fest is coming up quickly! We always like to kick it off by remembering why we are doing all of this.

Van & Dee Larson created the Sunshine Memorial Foundation to honor the memory of their daughter, Shannon “Sunshine” Larson.

Shannon was born and raised in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She had a passion for living life to its fullest and was a ray of sunshine. Spending time with family and friends and traveling were her main interests. Her winning smile, compassionate and helping nature, generosity, and sense of humor, touched the lives of all those around her. Whether you had a long-term friendship or just met Shannon, she had such a charm and genuineness about her that she seemed to captivate you, and would always connect with a wink and a smile!

Shannon and her fiancé, Matt, moved to the Phoenix area in 2007. On September 8th of that year, Shannon died from heat exhaustion while hiking in Usery Mountain Park. Although she had done extensive hiking previously, she was unaware of the effects of the intense heat and the subsequent large quantities of water necessary under these circumstances. Shannon was 31 years old and just beginning a new chapter in her life. Perhaps her death could have been avoided if information had been available to her about the dangers of dehydration and heat stroke.

The Sunshine Memorial Foundation was created to help others in a way similar to which Shannon did. We are currently raising funds to build the Sunshine Hospitality Home, which will help so many. It will provide a place to stay for those who are seeking medical treatment in Grand Forks. It will be a place that brings sunshine to many in difficult circumstances. Proceeds from the upcoming Sunshine Fest will benefit the Home.

We could all use a little more sunshine, especially during this cold snap!

Until then,

#ShareTheSunshine

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