Saturday, Aug. 4, was certainly a wonderful night for the wild ones.  A perfect summer evening set the stage for more than 300 guests gathered in a beautiful natural setting to celebrate our 10^th annual gala and raise money for the thousands of injured and orphaned wild animals WRC treats each year.

It was especially fitting to honor founding board members, Kate Johnson, Kathy Knauth, Paige Winebarger and Paige’s late husband Bob Teetshorn.  WRC is a well-established organization in the community; but that wasn’t always the case.  In fact if not for these very special people there would likely not be a WRC today.

We capped off a successful auction and evening with a raspberry champagne “Toast to the Wild Ones;” saluting past honorees and recognizing people in attendance who had been sponsors for all 10 events.  Although unable to attend, our toast included our first honoree and premier sponsor for all ten years, Babs Koch.

All our past honorees and this year’s: (l to r)  Rick and Carmen Diamond, 10-year sponsors; Nancy and Clarkson Lindley, 10-year sponsors; Cliff Otten, 2011 honoree; Kate Johnson, 2012 honoree; Susan and Jon Campbell, 2009 honorees and representing 10-year sponsor Wells Fargo; Paige Winebarger, 2012 honoree; and Phil Jenni, WRC Executive Director.

A successful event requires a great deal of planning, teamwork and energy.  We are blessed to have an amazing event committee headed this year by WRC board member Bill Bosch, and managed by event consultant Nancy Lindley.  Our thanks to the many people who contributed time, talent and treasure to make this special evening come alive.

HOSTS
Richard and Jude Miller Burke

HONOREES
Kate Johnson
Kathy Knauth
Bob Teetshorn
Paige Winebarger

HONORARY EVENT CHAIRS
Barbara “Babs” Koch
Harry Sweatt
Zita Hawley Wright

CHAIR
Bill Bosch

PAST CHAIR
Virginia Lord

EVENT COMMITTEE
ADVISOR
Kate Johnson

SECRETARY
Pat Johnston

TREASURER
Lenny Dayton

David Busch
Kerry D’Amato
Kati Campbell
Susan Carlson
Tim Colliton
Andrea Edmonson
Kay Erickson
Mark Ettinger
John Faricy
Darcy Haislet
Jim Hale
Sharon Hale
Mary Holmes
Kathy Johnson
Carla Liesch
Peggy Pallus
Brittany Poole
Kathi Roer
Gary Roller
Tom Steinke
Deb K. Van de Ven
Bonnie Williams
Kathy Winter

Platinum Sponsor
($15,000+)

Babs & David Koch

Gold Sponsors
($5,000 +)

Kerry D’Amato
Faricy Law Firm
Marquette Asset Management
Walt McCarthy & Clara Ueland
Trust Point
Wells Fargo

Silver Sponsors
($2,500 +)

Susan & Alan Carlson
Ted Erickson
Mary Holmes
Peggy Menzel & Ed Craegan
Otten Bros.

Bronze Sponsors
($1,000+)

Mary Lee Dayton
Rick & Carmen Diamond
Jim & Sharon Hale
Halunen and Associates
Phil Jenni
Kate Johnson & Scott Berry
Kathy Knauth
Jim & Joni Lane
Nik Larson
Nancy & Clarkson Lindley
Dale & Randy Lindquist
Helen & Daniel Lindsay
Mary Faricy Pardue
Matt Shea, Gray, Plant, Mooty
Harry & Ginny Sweatt
Paige Winebarger

Enjoy more photos of the evening’s event here.