Creative ways to raise money still helping Pass Christian

Our community knows no boundaries when it comes to creative ways to meet unmet needs.

For instance, after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast two years ago, Naperville Responds surfaced as an idea from Ron Wehrli and a bunch of men sitting around playing cards.

Bill Brestal, one of the men at the table, pitched a plan that if every resident donated $10, our community could help Pass Christian, Miss., rebuild at least 20 homes.

As residents learned how Naperville Responds might help, folks tried to imagine our hometown without its landmarks.

We tried to understand indiscriminate torrents that destroyed homes, bridges, city hall, official records, schools, the library, churches, communication, the post office, grocery stores, parks, ball fields and playgrounds -- everything, sometimes as far as six miles inland.

Ray Kinney got the ball rolling with "snowflake" ornaments, "Bridging Two Communities," that brought in $10,000. By mid-December, ornaments decorated a "Giving Tree" in front of Jimmy's Grill, topped with an angel representing another $25,000 gift from Ryan-Hill Realty.

Sue Omanson came up with the slogan "$10 for 20" and designer Tom Tortorich created a logo -- all pro bono.

At the Naperville Public Library, Becky Hollis organized collections of DVDs, books and videos for the makeshift Pass Christian Library, set up in a large trailer until a new library replaces the one twisted to rubble.

Naperville school children donated new and gently-used books; so many that Pass Christian Librarian Sally James shared them with other Gulf Coast communities, too.

Until recently, Naperville recognized Pass Christian as its "domestic Sister City."

According to Rich Mikolajczyk, who serves on both the Naperville Responds board and the Sister Cities Commission, in order to distinguish the relationship from the International Sister Cities program -- a people-to-people initiative started in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower to help build friendship and commerce with an exchange of culture and finances -- Naperville now calls Pass Christian our "Partner City."

Early on, church mission groups, the Naperville Art League, service clubs, Scouts and the Weed Ladies found ways to partner. And more than $800,000 in individual gifts and pledges followed to fund homes now finished or under construction.

A month ago, Councilman Grant Wehrli visited Pass Christian. After touring the city and the local seafood industry with Mayor Chipper McDermott, Wehrli is exploring ways to assist commerce.

"While it's been quite some time since the hurricane hit, this town still has a long way to go," Wehrli said. "Rebuilding is slow. They need local businesses to return. Yet, after seeing the destruction, I'm in awe of the spirit that remains strong there."

Cheers for Charity

The second annual Indian Prairie Unit District 204 Middle School Faculty Softball Game will swing into action at 4:15 p.m. Friday at Frontier Park.

Unlike last year when faculty squared off for charity to top off a week of friendly competition between Crone and Scullen middle schools that raised $17,657.28 for a Pass Christian middle school, all six District 204 middle schools -- with roughly 7,000 students -- are participating.

Ironically, officials broke ground on a new K-8 school in Pass Christian last Wednesday.

This year, students hope to hit $42,000, the cost of materials to build one Naperville Responds home since skilled labor is provided by the Mennonites Disaster Services.

The weeklong competition, which ends Thursday, charts which school can raise the most money per student.

According to Crone Principal Stan Gorbatkin, students will emcee a brief pre-game ceremony that will feature a saxophone quartet, highlights of the endeavor, unofficial totals, introductions of special guests and gratitude.

Mayor McDermott will be represented by David James, an Elmhurst resident who was born and raised in The Pass.

"I wish I could be there to say thanks," McDermott said.

Janet Buglio, communication services coordinator, is confident that no matter how much is raised, everybody will win.

Considering how the horrific natural disaster reshaped lives, neighborhoods and towns, Buglio said, "…(Katrina) also reshaped the lives of millions of people not directly affected who stepped forward to get involved with efforts to help their fellow man in need."