Causes to Celebrate

Pam Seiler, Executive Director of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center, and Todd Trimberger, proprietor of Lifestyles by Bliss, at the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center Membership Mixer on October 21, 2014. Photo courtesy of the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center.

The Pink Classic Golf Tournament, held June 1, 2014 beckoned golfers young and old in their finest pink threads to play a round to benefit the Sue Baldwin Fund, helping Door County residents who are fighting breast cancer. Pictured are Sue Baldwin’s daughter (and event organizer) Carrie Baldwin Smith, and granddaughters Nora and Camilla. Photo by Len Villano.

Bob Desh presents an award to Tom Schueppert, who earned Best of Show with his boat Shamrock III at the Classic & Wooden Boat Festival? held at the Door County Maritime Museum on August 2 – 3, 2014. The event raised $10,978?. Photo by Steve Reinke.

For the second year, the Door County YMCA offered free lunches to children through August 29, 2014. Photo by Len Villano.

The official groundbreaking for the new Sister Bay stage in Waterfront Park took place on April 25, 2014, in Sister Bay. (Left to right) Administrator Zeke Jackson, trustee John Clove, trustee Scott Baker, president Dave Lienau, trustee Pat Duffy, facilities manager Steve Mann, utilities manager Steve Jacobson, former trustee Pam Abshire, former administrator Bob Kufrin, and trustee Nora Zacek. Submitted photo.

The 2014 Door County Half Marathon had 40 Run For A Cause participants. This group of runners raised more than $20,000 for charity in 2014, bringing the five-year program total to nearly $70,000. Photo by Len Villano.

More than 60 volunteers helped raise more than $28,000 for Sunshine House Inc. at Corn Fest on September 6, 2014. Corn Fest was held at Schopf’s Hilltop Dairy Farm. Pictured is Nick Freimuth announcing the corn-eating contest with contestants, from left to right, Kenny Kuehn, Lisa Wickert, Miss Teen Door County Sophia Pollman and Miss Door County Cora Baudhuin. Submitted photo.

Breakfast in the Fields is an annual event thanking the most generous Door County Land Trust donors. The annual event is designed to thank those contributors making significant gifts and always includes a tour led by the executive director. Photo by Betty Ambuel.

The Sister Bay Lions Club helps kids build boats at Marina Fest in Sister Bay on Labor Day weekend. Photo by Mark Kunstman.

Debbie Frank and Angie McMahon organized the 2nd annual Say Yes to the Paper Dress event held in Sister Bay as a benefit for We Are HOPE, Inc. A total of $4,244 was raised from the sale of artwork and silent auction items and an additional $2,000 was donated by Thrivent Financial. Photo by Steve Frank.

On July 12, 2014, Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands volunteers traveled to Plum Island for a workday to clean up the 325-acre island. Volunteers, pictured here, installed trail signs made by Hannes Johnson, a Washington Island high school student. Photo by Tim Sweet.

Women’s Fund board members Barb Hansen, Barb Sweeney and Sherry Mutchler welcome guests to the sold-out Celebrate Women! Luncheon on August 13, 2014. Photo by Kelly Avenson.

Knights in shining armor were of part of the 2014 Door County Renaissance and Fantasy Faire. The nonprofit Door County Renaissance Faire group has worked with schools to encourage students to learn about this time period by providing educational programs and materials with funding from the fair. Photo by Len Villano.

The Jacksonport Women’s Club once again held a tree beautification program in 2014 to enhance scenic byways, back roads and lakesides. The Women’s Club partnered with Sevastopol School FFA students to help with the planting. Submitted photo.

A crowd gathered for the Peninsula Players 2014 season preview event. The season included the world premiere of The Tin Woman, the classic whodunit And Then There Were None, the comedy The Mystery of Irma Vep, the Midwest premiere of Butler, and the return of Always…Patsy Cline. Submitted photo.

On August 9, 2014, Culver’s of Sturgeon Bay donated 10 percent of all sales to the Open Door Bird Sanctuary in Jacksonport. Pictured at right is Open Door co-founder Jillaine Burton holding Aisling, the then-four-month-old Eurasian Eagle Owl being raised as the sanctuary’s educational raptor. Photo by Len Villano.

At the Midsummer’s Music Festival Opening Night Gala on June 13, 2014, board Vice President Mike Schmitz presented a thank you gift to Frank Dayton (left) to honor his more than 20 years of volunteerism to the festival. Photo by Mark Kunstman.

The Door County Maritime Museum’s Wooden Boatbuilding Class raffled off their creation at Door County events from June through October. The 2014 Whitehall was on display at the Fourth of July celebration in Baileys Harbor (pictured) and at Pumpkin Patch in Egg Harbor. The raffle raised $22,306 to benefit the museum. Photo by Amy Paul.

In a few short months the Sturgeon Bay Skatepark took shape on the west side of Sturgeon Bay in 2014. The groundbreaking was held on June 9, 2014, and the skatepark was opened in early September. Photos by Len Villano.

Former Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Rick Nelson had his head shaved by his wife, Barbara, when the agency’s fundraising goal of $15,000 was met. Submitted photo.

Volunteers sold cookies and soda to benefit the United Way of Door County at Sail Thru the Avenues Sidewalk Sale in Sturgeon Bay. Photo submitted by Mary Cram.

Friends of Gibraltar held their annual Hairpin 5K run/walk on July 4, 2014 in Fish Creek. More than 1,400 people participated in the event that raises funds for student enrichment activities at Gibraltar Area Schools. Photos by Vinni Chomeau.

Door Shakespeare’s full acting ensemble performed at their 2014 annual gala, held at Woodwalk Gallery in Egg Harbor. Submitted photo.

Since its inception in 2001 the Door County Scottie Rally has gathered Scottish Terriers, their families and fans from across the globe. The generosity of donors and attendees are responsible for generating more than $165,000 for Scottie health research and Scottie rescue. Submitted photo.

Members of the SCAND Auxiliary Board of Directors gathered on January 16, 2015, to present Nicki Scharrig, resource development coordinator of Good Samaritan Scandia Village, a check for $100,000. The check is a payment on the second million-dollar pledge that the auxiliary made to the Partners in Compassion Campaign Fund for the new assisted living building and continued remodeling of Scandia Village. Submitted photo.

The eighth annual Bike Rodeo, geared for third through seventh grade riders, was held at Sturgeon Bay High School in May of 2014. Paul Anschutz, Bike Committee Chairman of the Door County Silent Sports Alliance, said the rodeo is about “getting kids confident and feeling safe to ride on the road.” Photo submitted by Mary Cram.

The Door County Humane Society was showered with gifts of cat food, bleach, blankets and more at the first-ever Kitten Shower held May 10, 2014. The humane society in turn offered guests cake, punch, games and a chance to peek at their newest litters of kittens. The event raised $974 in monetary donations and several hundred dollars worth of donations of cat food, paper products and more. Photo submitted by Mary Cram.

Good Samaritan Society – Scandia Village’s $8 million Partners in Compassion campaign saw Phase I of the three-phase project completed as residents moved into the new assisted living facility on December 17, 2014. Photo by Len Villano.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin went from having just two matches to more than 70 in a little more than two years. They credit a part of that success to their site-based program at Southern Door School District. Photo submitted by Kristen Mihaljevic.

Businesses around the county LIVE UNITED with the United Way employee campaign.  Pictured here are Baylake Bank Egg Harbor employees at their Soup Sale. Submitted photo.

Altrusa of Door County volunteers served food and drinks for Egg Harbor’s Pumpkin Patch Festival. Photo submitted by Mary Cram.

Pirates in the Harbour, pictured here volunteering at the 2014 Door County Half Marathon, had a successful year raising money for Door County’s nonprofits. Their total of donations for 2014 were just short of $7,000. Photo by Suzi Haas.

People donned their best western getups to learn line dancing at the Living Hope Dojo fundraiser at the Institute Saloon. Photo submitted by Mary Cram.

The 18th annual Jacksonport Thanksgiving Day parade and benefit was built upon the theme of neighbors helping neighbors and supported a woman in a battle with cancer, Maggie DeMeuse. Parade Committee Chair Mary Witteborg said, “What started as a way to celebrate Thanksgiving has become an important annual event bringing families out to give back and share in the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.” Photo by Len Villano.

The Merry-Time Festival of Trees, held November 15 to December 9, 2014 featured a number of events, including Tree Tales, a Writing Adventure; Ministry Door County Medical Center’s Children’s Choir; Pirate Day; book signing for A Door County Night Before Christmas; Santa on the Tugboat John Purves (pictured); Door CANcer Holiday Home Tour; and Jingle, Jingle, Mix & Mingle. These events raised $14,581 for the museum. Photo by Mitch Custer.

On November 19, 2014, more than 75 community members braved the bitter cold to create bowls for the annual SOUP! Benefit at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek. The February event benefits Door County Habitat for Humanity and Peninsula School of Art’s Youth and Outreach Programs. Photo by Alyssa Skiba.

(Left to right) Friends of Bjِrklunden stalwarts Gretchen Maring ’52, Joe Hopfensperger ’52 and Barbara Larsen ’49 attended The Boynton Society Gala, an event for Bjِrklunden patrons in Baileys Harbor, held in August 2014. The gala included food, entertainment, lectures and a Lawrence University alumni college session. Submitted photos.

Neighbor to Neighbor Volunteer Caregivers of Door County held their sixth annual Door County Rib Fest on November 1, 2014 at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club. Mary Geitner (pictured) from Mr. G’s Logan Creek Grille won in the professional category and the Young Automotive Pit Crew (Jed Ring, Scott Fittshur and Matt Young) won the amateur category. Submitted photo.

Door County North held the Farm & Market Trolley Tour fundraiser on September 11, 2014. The tour provided a behind-the-scenes look at local farms and markets. Koepsel’s Farm Market, Waseda Farms, Door County Creamery, Seaquist Orchards Farm Market, Grasse’s Grill and Island Orchard Cider were featured on the tour. Submitted photo.

The Baileys Harbor Community Association hosted a number of events in 2014, including the very first Winter Carnival in February. The organization also hosts a Christmas in the Harbor celebration and a Halloween party for kids and their families. Submitted photo.

Members of the Door County Boys and Girls Club sold hamburgers and hot dogs during the February 2014 Fire and Ice Carving Competition at Martin Park to raise funds for their organization. Photo submitted by the Sturgeon Bay Visitor Center.

Lilly Fellner gives the camera a big thumbs up as she gets a new, custom-fit mouthguard during Door County Dental Care’s sixth annual Free Athletic Mouthguard Day on July 24, 2014. All area student athletes were invited to receive a custom-fit, professionally made, team color-coordinated mouthguard free of charge. Submitted photo.

Send your celebration photos to [email protected] for possible inclusion in next year’s Philanthropy Issue. Please identify all people in photos as well as full photo credit information.