Tags still available on giving trees for Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona

Saint Mary’s University Gifts for Winona giving trees are still full of tags. This communitywide program is providing gifts to area children and seniors in need this holiday season.

Each tag is labeled with a different person’s holiday gift wishes. In addition to a tree in Saint Mary’s Hall, trees are located at the three Severson-Sinclair locations, Walmart, and Security State Bank of Lewiston. Additionally, grocery cards can be purchased for families at both HyVee and Midtown Foods.

The Saint Mary’s community is invited to take a tag from the Saint Mary’s tree, shop for items on the gift list, and return gifts by Dec. 10 to the Business Office. The recommended amount for holiday gifts is approximately $35 per person. Tags should be securely taped to the outside of the gift/gifts. They do not need to be wrapped.

As the gift distribution is early this year—mid-December—the community is asked to begin their season of giving early as well. The success of this program depends on the generosity of the Winona-area community.

For more information, call the Gifts for Winona line at Ext. 8719. Other community partners that join Saint Mary’s to help make this program possible are the Winona Post, Winona

Women’s basketball hosts toy drive for Gifts for Winona

The Saint Mary’s women’s basketball team is inviting the public to bring an unwrapped, new toy for a boy or girl to the Dec. 6 home game against Augsburg. The game will begin at 1 p.m. in Saint Mary’s gym. Toys will be distributed through Saint Mary’s University’s Gifts for Winona to a local child in time for Christmas.

Bake sale raises $1,200 for Jamaica cohorts

The Friends of M.Ed. Jamaica extends its thanks to the university community for the tremendous support of the bake sale and silent auction fundraising event held on Nov. 21 on the Winona Campus.

The group raised over $1,200 for a scholarship fund for students in the Jamaica cohorts of the M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning program, offered in Williamsfield, Jamaica in collaboration with the Catholic College of Mandeville (CCM).

For the past three years this group of employees has raised a donation, first to assist with outfitting a new classroom at CCM used by the M.Ed. program, $1,500 for student scholarships for this current academic year, and with the goal of $1,500 from this year’s events to be given for scholarships for the next academic year. If you are interested in joining the group or making a donation, please contact Tracy Lehnertz or Jana Korder.

Breast Cancer Silent auction is Dec. 12

The 9th annual Breast Cancer Silent Auction will be held Friday, Dec. 12, from 8 to 3:30 p.m. in Room 115 of Saint Mary’s Hall. All proceeds go to breast cancer research.

Let’s Do Ice Cream raises $210.50

The Volunteer Committee’s ice cream sundae fundraiser Thursday raised $210.50 for the students on our Nairobi campus. Thanks to Chartwells for donating ice cream to make this event successful.

Public invited to play in Tom Farren Memorial Golf Classic

The public is invited to play in the sixth annual Tom Farren Memorial Golf Classic Sunday, July 20. The four-person scramble will have a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Cedar Valley Golf Course. The $80 entry fee includes a Sunday brunch from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., a Saint Mary’s sweatshirt and 18 holes of golf with a cart.  The deadline to register was Monday, July 7.

This outing honors former Saint Mary’s golf coach Tom Farren and is a fundraiser for the men’s and women’s golf teams.

Send a check and shirt sizes for foursomes to Cedar Valley Golf Course, P.O. Box 1148, Winona, MN 55987. For more information, contact Nikki Fennern at nfennern@smumn.edu or Ext. 1638.

Public invited to play in Tom Farren Memorial Golf Classic

The public is invited to play in the sixth annual Tom Farren Memorial Golf Classic Sunday, July 20. The four-person scramble will have a 9 a.m. shotgun start at Cedar Valley Golf Course. The $80 entry fee includes a Sunday brunch from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., a Saint Mary’s sweatshirt and 18 holes of golf with a cart.  The deadline to register is Monday, July 7.

This outing honors former Saint Mary’s golf coach Tom Farren and is a fundraiser for the men’s and women’s golf teams.

Send a check and shirt sizes for foursomes to Cedar Valley Golf Course, P.O. Box 1148, Winona, MN 55987. For more information, contact Nikki Fennern at nfennern@smumn.edu or Ext. 1638.

Let’s Do Lunch to be hosted by athletics April 25

The next Let’s Do Lunch fundraiser will be a tailgate lunch, hosted by the Athletic Department, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the hockey arena lobby. Proceeds will be used for students in Nairobi. Enjoy burgers and brats on the grill and don’t forget an extra buck for chuck a puck!

Tom Farren Golf Outing planned for July 20

The Tom Farren Memorial Golf Outing will be held Sunday, July 20, at Cedar Valley Golf Course. This is the sole fundraiser for the men’s and women’s golf programs and honors former SMU golf Coach Tom Farren

It will be a scramble format. Sign-up information and flyer will be available soon.

Saint Mary’s to host Row, Ride, Run Triathlon

The annual Saint Mary’s University “Row, Ride, Run Triathlon” will take place on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 9 a.m. at Lake Lodge in Winona and finishing on Saint Mary’s Winona campus. About 150 athletes from throughout the Midwest are expected to register for the race.

Participants will canoe or kayak a 2.5-mile loop around Lake Winona, then bike 14 miles from Lake Winona to the SMU campus. Once on campus, racers will run 3.1 miles through the bluffs surrounding the university.

Proceeds assist Serving Others United in Love (SOUL), a collaborative program between a student organization and Saint Mary’s Office of Campus Ministry. Through SOUL, students are able to connect with diverse communities by participating in national and international service trips.

Registration is $35 per individual or $70 per team. Teams can be made up of two, three or four members. The deadline to register was Sunday, April 20, and racers must provide their own canoes or kayaks.

Awards will be presented to the top three fastest individuals and the top finishing teams.
Participants must be 10 or older to row or run and 15 or older to bike.

For more information, visit www.smumn.edu/rowriderun or call (Ext. 7268).

Let’s Do Lunch to be hosted by athletics April 25

The next Let’s Do Lunch fundraiser will be a tailgate lunch, hosted by the Athletic Department, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the hockey arena lobby. Proceeds will be used for students in Nairobi.

Bowl-a-thon to help raise money for food shelf

A “bowl-a-thon” was held Tuesday in the ceramics room to throw bowls for an upcoming “Empty Bowls for the Hungry” event. The bowls will be sold with soup, and the buyer gets to keep the bowl during the Earth Day events on April 26 in Winona. All proceeds will go to the Winona Food Shelf.

Fundraiser by FGI program raises $357 for Nairobi programs

On Friday, March 21, students in the First Generation Initiatives (FGI) program sold more than 200 cupcakes to raise money for the university’s two programs in Nairobi, Kenya.  The final tally was $357, which will be donated to both CTIE and MIAS to be used toward student scholarships. A huge thank you to the Winona campus community for again supporting the Cupcakes for a Cause event, the third year that the FGI program has been involved.  A special thanks to student Lisa Obasi who coordinated the event, and to all the students who baked, decorated, made signs, and sold cupcakes.

Employee Giving Campaign ends April 2

The 2014 One University One Mission Community Campaign will end April 2.

The Office of Development is trying to beat last year’s record by raising $82,000 with 62 percent of employees participating.

Each year employees demonstrate a remarkable spirit of community by participating in the Employee Giving campaign. Every investment, whatever the amount, blesses a life in a very significant way.

Complete the online giving form at http://www.smumn.edu/employeegiftform or request a paper form by e-mailing apengra@smumn.edu.

Taylor Richmond benefit raises more than $14,000

About 575 people attended the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance

Jason and Tina Richter with their sons, Jackson, Carter and Gus.

More than 575 people attended Saint Mary’s 14th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance on March 15.

Proceeds from the dance — and a silent auction held on campus — raised more than $14,000 for this year’s beneficiary Jason Richter, who worked at Saint Mary’s from 1998 to 2010 in Student Activities and was once responsible for overseeing this same benefit event. Richter, who currently lives in Davenport, Iowa, is formerly of Rollingstone, where he served with the volunteer fire department and was an active community member.

Prior to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma last summer, Richter had pain in his lower back that turned out to be a mass. This is a disease that is more commonly found in people around the age of 60; because of his young age, he has responded well to treatments. He has undergone 10 radiation sessions, as well as recent bone and stem cell transplants. On top of that, the Richter family lives an hour away from the hospital Jason is receiving treatment at in Iowa City.

Although now in remission, Richter is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments. This year’s proceeds will assist his family, which includes three young sons, with their medical expenses and travel costs.

The benefit has become an annual student tradition since its start in 2001 in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of SMU staff member Nikki Richmond and Nick Richmond. Each year this event benefits someone in need who has ties to the SMU community. Although Taylor passed away this past October, his memory lives on at Saint Mary’s.

Donations are still being accepted; send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Lance Thompson, Saint Mary’s University, 700 Terrace Heights #1528, Winona, MN 55987.

To see more photos, go to www.smumn.edu/photos.

Taylor Richmond benefit assists former benefit organizer

Saint Mary’s will present the 14th annual Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance from 8:30 p.m. to midnight Saturday, March 15.

The beneficiary of this year’s formal dance — open to the public — is Jason Richter.

Richter is well-known to the Saint Mary’s community as he worked from 1998 to 2010 in Student Activities and was responsible for overseeing this same benefit event. Richter, who currently lives in Davenport, Iowa, is formerly of Rollingstone, where he served with the volunteer fire department and was an active community member.

Prior to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma last summer, Richter had pain in his lower back that turned out to be a mass. This is a disease that is more commonly found in people around the age of 60; because of his young age, he has responded well to treatments. He has undergone 10 radiation sessions, as well as recent bone and stem cell transplants. On top of that, the Richter family lives an hour away from the hospital Jason is receiving treatment at in Iowa City.

Although now in remission, Richter is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments. This year’s proceeds will assist his family, which includes three young sons, with their medical expenses and travel costs.

The benefit has become an annual student tradition since its start in 2001 in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of SMU staff member Nikki Richmond and Nick Richmond. Each year this event benefits someone in need who has ties to the SMU community. Although Taylor passed away this past October, his memory lives on at Saint Mary’s.

The dance, featuring music by the Johnny Holm Band, will be held in the gymnasium. Ticket prices are $15 per person or $30 per couple. To purchase tickets or receive more information, contact Lance Thompson at Ext. 1686. Dance tickets will also be available at the door.

In combination with the dance, a silent auction will be held on campus from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 13-14. A variety of homemade goods, gift baskets and specialty items will be on display in the game room, located in the Toner Student Center. The public is welcome to bid. Donations are still needed.

To make a donation, send checks — payable to the Taylor Richmond Benefit Dance — to Lance Thompson, Box 1528.

Chili cookoff raises $430

A total of $430 was raised for the Jamaica campus during the annual chili cookoff Feb. 21.

Our winners this year were:

1st - Janet Heukeshoven
2nd - Jackie Killian
3rd - Rachel Thomas

Thanks to all the other chili makers: Mary Kosel, Laurie Haase, Tracy Lehnertz, Scott Sorvaag, Betty Kube, Roger Peckover, Sue Shadle, Jason Spartz, Terri Lieder, Deb Martin, Terrie Lueck and Andrea Pengra.

Special thanks to this year’s judges: Christopher Vondracek, Michael DeNotto, Zachary Malvik and Derek Jackson.

The Volunteer Committee would also like to thank the President’s Cabinet for sponsoring the cookoff, and to both Chartwells/Mugby Junction and Barnes and Noble for donating gift certificates for prizes.

Donations now accepted for Taylor Richmond benefit, auction

The beneficiary for the 2014 Taylor Richmond Benefit is Jason Richter.

Richter is well-known to the Saint Mary’s community as he worked from 1998 to 2010 as the Student Activities director, and as such he was responsible for overseeing this benefit.

Richter was diagnosed with multiple myeloma last summer. He had pain in his lower back that turned out to be a mass, hindering the flow of liquids in his spinal cord. This is a disease that is more commonly found in people around the age of 60; because of his young age, he has responded well to treatments. He has undergone 10 radiation sessions, as well as recent bone and stem cell transplants. On top of that, the Richter family lives an hour away from the hospital Jason is receiving treatment at in Iowa City.

Although now in remission, Richter is still undergoing chemotherapy treatments. This year’s proceeds will assist his family, which includes three young sons, with their medical expenses and travel costs.

The silent auction will be March 13-14. Donations for the auction are now being accepted. Past items have consisted of: all-expense paid trips, electronics, dinners, themed baskets, tickets to sporting or music events and gift cards.

The benefit has become an annual tradition since its start in 2001 by students in honor of Taylor Richmond, son of SMU staff member Nikki Richmond and Nick Richmond. Each year this event benefits continues to help someone in need who has ties to the SMU community.

Donations for the silent auction or monetary donations to help with cost of dance or supplements for the silent auction can be sent to Hannah Friedrich at Box 1090.

Business Office selling valentines as fundraiser

The Business Office is selling homemade valentines for $2. Stop down and load up on valentines for your loved ones. All money raised will go toward the office’s Feed My Starving Children team.

Feed My Starving Children is a Christian non-profit organization which utilizes volunteers to put together specially formulated food packets to be sent around the world to feed starving children. The program serves children who are starving, even in the United States.

Cardinal Plunge Feb. 8 to raise money for Ellinghuysen family

Brave souls and warm hearts are invited to join Saint Mary’s University for the fifth annual “Cardinal Plunge” 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Lake Lodge Recreation Center, in coordination with the Winter Carnival Goose Bump Jump.

This year, Cardinal Plunge participants will be freezin’ for a reason. Proceeds will be given to SMU junior Conner Ellinghuysen’s father, Robert Ellinghuysen of Winona. Robert was hit head on in a collision in June 2012 along Highway 14 in Stockton. He underwent numerous surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. Proceeds will help the Ellinghuysen family with ongoing medical expenses and other family needs. A silent auction will also be held. Cash donations and items can be brought to the SMU Alumni Office.

The cost to plunge is $20 ($15 for the SMU community). This event is sponsored by the Saint Mary’s Future Alumni Committee.

Pre-register online at www.mysmumn.org/plunge2014. For more information, contact Kenzie Corrow at (507) 995-4863 or Conner Ellinghuysen at (507) 429-7960.