WHAT YOU CAN DO - The WingDing
Click here for a slideshow of the 2010 event.
What's the WingDing? It's a party! A fundraiser! A celebration of the GC river community!
This party is kind of the kick-off for the whole river season, and it's about the most fun you can have out of the canyon. Take all your best friends, add great food and great music, and it's sort of like a river trip indoors" says Christa Sadler, president of the Whale Foundation.
Press release
10TH ANNUAL WHALE FOUNDATION WING DING TO TAKE PLACE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH
AT THE COCONINO CENTER FOR THE ARTS, IN FLAGSTAFF
The annual charity event brings Northern Arizona together to raise awareness for the Whale
Foundation’s outreach programs and celebrate the Grand Canyon river community.
Flagstaff, Ariz – January 30th, 2012: Flagstaff’s river guiding community and local outdoor
enthusiasts alike are invited to the 10thAnnual Whale Foundation Wing Ding Celebration. The event
will take place Saturday, February 25th at 6pm at the Coconino Center for the Arts (2300 N. Fort
Valley Rd.). The evening will feature dinner, drinks, dancing, live music, and live and silent auctions
for featuring outdoor gear, art, services, and gift certificates. A donation of $15/person or $25/
couple is suggested, tickets can be purchased at the door.
This year celebrates the 10th annual Wing Ding with many new additions to the regular program.
“We’re doing new things this year,” says Dan Hall, Whale Foundation Director. “We’ve added two
big raffles with a variety of items and certificates from local businesses, one is called the “Great
Outdoors” and the other is called “Your Lucky Day,” and each is worth $1,000.” He goes on to
say, “we’ve also added a photo booth to capture fun moments, as well as karaoke for money which
is sure to get more than a few laughs.” The Wing Ding is a special reunion for the river community,
but more than that, it’s an event for everyone and we really hope Flagstaff and Northern Arizona
will come and join in the celebration.
As part of this special 10th anniversary event, we are spotlighting the work of Grand Canyon
artist Sam Jones, who has been painting watercolors of Grand Canyon scenery for 20 years. Sam’s
watercolors are currently on display at West of the Moon Gallery (westofthemoongallery.com) in
downtown Flagstaff. “We think it will be a hit to showcase the talents of Grand Canyon artists and
each year we will be spotlighting a different artist who is somehow influenced by the canyon,” says
Bronze Black and the Wing Ding Committee.
This wonderful gathering benefits the Whale Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports
the mental and physical health of the Grand Canyon river guiding community. “This party is kind
of the kick-off for the whole river season, and it’s as much fun as you can have off the river... take
all your best friends, add great food, and great music, and it’s sort of like a river trip indoors,” says
Christa Sadler, president of the Whale Foundation.
The Whale Foundation’s mission is to provide confidential access to mental and physical healthcare
professionals and a network of support services designed to restore, promote, and celebrate the
well being of the Grand Canyon River Guiding Community. The Foundation also exists to provide a
safety net for those transitioning from the profession of river running into other occupations. For
more information please go to www.whalefoundation.org. or visit us on Facebook.
Hey, musicians, bring your instruments!
Here’s the evening’s schedule:
6:00pm - Doors open and welcome!
- Drop off your coats
- Beverage Center and silent auction opens
6:15pm - Dinner is served
8:00pm - Live auction begins in the theatre
8:30pm - Payment Center opens for auction items won
9:00pm - First silent auction closes
9:30pm - Second silent auction closes
10:45pm - Beverage Center closes
11:00pm - Closing time
Suggested donation: $15/p or $25/couple. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
2010 WingDing Donors and Sponsors
The Whale Foundation Board of Directors expresses its profound appreciation and gratitude to thedonors and sponsors of the Annual WingDing. Their generous support guarantees the success of this fund raising event to directly benefit and promote the physical and mental well being of the Grand Canyon river guiding community. Thank you all sincerely.
