EDMOND — Edmond residents gave their generous support to the annual Edmond Sun Christmas Samaritan Fund Drive benefiting the HOPE Center of Edmond.

Samaritans donated more than $151,738 during the five-week campaign. This figure nearly matches the $152,000 generated by the 2007 fundraiser, but comes short of the $155,000 goal for 2008.

All of the proceeds from the Samaritan Fund Drive will allow HOPE to keep up with an increase in clients qualifying for emergency assistance. The food and clothing closet for Edmond area residents offers a health clinic and limited emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities.

Patrons of the Samaritan Fund Drive provide nearly one-third of the HOPE Center’s budget.

“I’m always astounded by the generosity of the community,” said Chris Sperry, executive director. “With the economy and things the way they are with people losing their jobs, for them to still turn out is amazing.”

The nationwide economic crisis poses a challenge for fundraising efforts. A survey by the Association of Fundraising Professionals found that 53 percent of North American charities raised fewer dollars when compared to the last quarter of 2007.

Financial Coordinator Brenda Chambers said many of these donors have been faithful to the fund drive for 20 years. More than $2.343 million in emergency assistance for those in need has been provided by the center’s generous supporters since The Edmond Sun began the Samaritan Fund Drive in 1989.

“I think $151,000 is fabulous,” Sperry said. “Who can whine about that. … This is just people reading stories and getting that good feeling of ‘Wow, this is what our community is doing.’ And they give out of the generosity of their heart.”



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114





Donors to the 2008 Samaritan Fund Drive



Genevieve Adamson in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Hal H. Adamson $100

Paula Joan Adamson $20

Alpine, Inc. $500

Jo Anne Anstine $200

George Ashford on behalf of clients $400

Sharman Barghols $100

Kathryn and Robert Berry in memory of Grace Olson and in honor of David and Linda Olson $50

Homeowners of the Gardens of Blue Quail Ridge $660

David and Kathleen Brannen $100

In memory of Bridget Brewer $300

Roy and Virginia Bridewell $200

Alan and Janna Brinkoetter in memory of Kent $100

Margaret Brisch $200

Mike Rose and Wanda Brown $100

Brookhaven Bunco Group in memory of Fontella Lemke $350

Bunco 8 $50

The Original Bunco Babes $100

Charles and Pauletta Butler $400

Jim and Patti Butts $100

First Presbyterian 9th Grade Girls Small Group Caroling in Faircloud $238

Clayton and Deborah Carson $250

Cathedral of the Hills Assembly of God $400

Ann M. Chambers $50

Cimarron Land Services $1,000

Cimarron Middle School Student Council $80

Leroy G. Coffman $600

Michael and Kathleen Conrad $200

Continental Land Resources $2,184.98

R.D. and Betty Cypher $500

Richard and Lori Davis $200

Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation $400

Steve and Maggie Dixon $1,000

Employees of Doc's Barber Shop, W.W. Tire and McCall's $178

Harvey and Barbara Drapkin $100

Quinton and Catherine Eastep $25

Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce $340

Edmond Christian Church $100

Edmond Chapter of Eastern Star $50

Edmond Family Chiropractic $210

Donna of Edmond Medical Center $5

Edmond Middle and High School Counselors $151

Edmond Trinity Christian Church $510

Edmond Wine Shop $200

Robert and Carin Eisenhauer $150

Jim and Judy Farley $500

Larry Fenity $500

Bob and Ann Finkenstaedt $100

First Baptist Church $50

First Christian Church $950

First Christian Church Cornerstone Class $200

First United Methodist Women $100

First Church of the Nazarene $1,000

First Presbyterian Church $2,325.03

Larry and Lynn Flener $50

Jacquie, Cynthia, Debbie & Sonya in memory of Larry Flesner $5,000

Mark and Nancy Frank $100

Herman and Clara Fullgraf $150

Ted and Becky Garrett in memory of Betty Caruthers, Frances Graham, Scott and Bonita Garrett $200

In memory of Marge Garrison $100

Beth M. Gerardy $50

Girl Scout Troop 62 $35

Karen Keith in memory of Harry Goebel $100

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Green in Honor of our neighbors: Tauntons, Wilsons, Boles & Matlocks $150

Richard and Janet Grimes $100

Bill and Hulda Hamilton $50

Prentice and Mary Hapgood $30

Mark and Anne Harris $2,000

Carol and J.T. Hartzog $250

Harry Heget $100

Bill and Lark Heins $500

C.E. and Iris Henderson $100

Heritage Presbyterian Church $300

Vincent and Mona Hoehner $200

Mark and Mary Hollingsworth $100

Harold and Barbara Holmberg $300

In Memory of Dr. Raleigh Holt $100

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church $950

Mark, Joan, Paul and Scott $2,000

Davis and Lisa Hudson in memory of Shelby Hudson $200

John and Janet Hudson $500

Mark and Eva Huston $300

Travis and Vernon Hyde $200

Dennis and Janet Jaggi $500

Randall and Deena Jenkins $250

John and Susan Jones $100

Rodney and Linda Kay Kessinger $250

Myrtle Ketch $25

Dr. J. Peter Kierl, DDS, MS in honor of colleagues $250

Lila J. Kimbler $500

Kirkpatrick Bank $1,645

Kirkpatrick Bank Employees $1,645

Kirkpatrick Bank in honor of Admirals Club Members Greg and Valari Wedel $200

Kiwanis Club of Edmond $300

Robert and Carol Lang $100

Dale and Geraldine Laubach $500

H.O. and Sandra Lichtenwalter $200

Vita L. Lomas $50

Lord of Life Lutheran Church $488

Steven and Deborah Lukowski $100

Mark and Kay Mades $75

Ben and Kareen Man $200

Matthews Funeral Home $1,000

In memory of Miles and Doris McPhail $500

Jesus and Elizabeth Medina $250

Dorothy Messenger $150

Midcon Data Services Employees $275

Midcon Data Services, LLC $275

James and Sandra Mold $50

The Mullins Family in memory of Dale Mullins $50

Frank and Saundra Naifeh $1,000

NARFE Chapter 947 $100

Joy Neidy $25

David and Betty Nittler in Memory of Hale and Elma Nittler and Teddy Duncan $50

North Pointe Baptist Church $200

Oak Hills Free Will Baptist Church $200

Sharron K. Oakes $50

Oaktree Book Worms $100

Daniel and Patricia O'Neil $100

Joyce Owens $1,500

Russell and Gail Panza $75

Peace Lutheran Church $640

Women of Peace $25

Andy and Beth Peck $50

John and Gailynn Phelps $100

Rick and Alane Pistulka $500

David and Pamela Przygocki $20

Eloise Rees $100

Kenneth and Gae Rees $500

Brad and Julie Reeser $1,000

Dennis and Laverna Reid $100

R. Jean Reining $25

Marlene Remington $2,000

In Memory of Bo Rios $25

Karlena Risenhoover in memory of Bill Clymer $100

W.A. and Betty Robeaux $100

Phil and Gayle Anne Roberts $1,000

Lance and Michelle Robnett in honor of Travis Robnett $50

Edmond Summit Rotary Club Foundation $650

Santa Fe Presbyterian Church $200

Susan Scherm $20

Donald and Deborah Schluchter $100

Hugo and Thelma Schwartz $100

Jerame and Jerod Shadid in memory of Mitzie Shadid $100

Jimmie Shadid Brown in Honor of Rev. Roy Brown $50

Jimmie Shadid Brown in memory of Coy Shadid $50

The Randel Shadid Family in memory of Coy Shadid $100

The Randel Shadid Family in memory of Rob Zaslaw and Kathy Standlee $100

Thomas and Barbara Sharp $250

Warren and Mary Shepherd $100

Sam and Leslie Sitton $250

Charles and Nancy Smith $100

Southern Hills Christian Church $553.80

The Tumbleweeds Class of Southern Hills Christian Churchin honor of Janet Cheatham $343

Southern Hills Christian Church $270.90

Special Occasions $250

Norman Squires $20

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church $2,000

St. Mark Lutheran Church $842.92

Dixie Stewart $50

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Still $100

John and Marietta Stone in honor of Mauvene Baker $100

Vern and Charlotte Stonecipher $100

Dennis and Marianne Stover $1,750

Summit Sunrise Ambucs $565.25

Jack and Carol Taylor in honor of our wedding $100

Taylor Made Photography $410

Jerry M. Thomason $1,000

Bill and Beverly Turner $100

Kevin and Leslie Tutty $35

UCO — Facilities $265

Dan and Marsha Vann $200

Ray and Suzanne Vaughn $500

Bob and Phyllis Vervinck in Memory of Paul Arman $100

Ladies Auxiliary V.F.W. Post #4938 $100

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4936 $100

Paul and Carlita Walters $100

Waterloo Road Baptist Church $340

Wechsler Family in memory of Brian $200

Larry and Leah Westmoreland $150

Harold and Christina Whipple in memory of Tina Page $200

Miss Eleanor Gibson in memory of Tina Page $60

Patrick and Carol Willett $50

Gene G. Wilson $500

Kimzey and Doris Womack $50

David and Carol Wright $50

X-Cel Badge and Engraving $1,000

Michael and Adeline Yerkes $200

Anonymous donations $84,056.93



Total donations $151,738.60