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Friday's Internet Edition, November 21, 2008.
Waldo Children’s Fund to host Hunan House dinner Saturday
Strother family children to benefit
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The Strother family children will be the beneficiaries of the Ed Waldo Children’s Fund dinner being held this Saturday at the Hunan House in Galt. The Strother family is trying to recover from the loss of Steven Strother, father and husband, who was murdered in Herald two weeks ago.
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By Rachael Ackerman
Herald Editor
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When Ed Waldo passed away suddenly in April 2007, the loss was far greater than that of a single life. Waldo, a hard working resident of the Galt area, was also a single father and sole supporter of three young children who depended on their father for everything.
Reacting to the needs of the Waldo family children, Ed’s friends got together to try to do something to help care for the children and provide the type of future they knew their friend would have labored to provide his young brood.
They started with a unique fundraiser, one inspired by Waldo’s love of the sport of fishing, the Eddy Waldo Benefit Fishing Derby, which was followed up by a Galt Junior Warrior pancake breakfast in May 2007.
Both events were very successful, and in the end Waldo’s friends were able to bank more than $12,000 for the future of the Waldo children.
Inspired by the community support and success of the endeavors, the group of friends made the decision to turn a one-time fundraising committee into a full-fledged, nonprofit organization for area kids.
As a result, one year after losing their friend, the Ed Waldo Children’s Fund was established for area families who suffer the tragic loss of a parent.
Just getting off the ground, members of the committee were already in full swing preparing for the second annual Ed Waldo Benefit Fishing Derby when tragedy of an unspeakable nature struck another local family with children.
On April 12, Galt resident Steven Strother was shot to death at a party in Herald, leaving behind a wife and two small children.
“This is a good family with small children,” said Waldo Fund president Tom Stribling. “This family needs some support right now, and the committee made the decision to try to assist them through our foundation.”
To that end, the Ed Waldo Children’s Fund will be hosting a benefit dinner at Galt’s Hunan House this Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $20 per person with the proceeds of the event going into the Waldo Children’s Fund, earmarked this time for the children of the Strother family.
Hunan House is located at 1067 C Street in the Save Mart Shopping Center in Galt. Dinner will be chicken or tri-tip and will include all of the fixin’s.
There will be a 50/50 drawing and music, beginning at 8 p.m., for those who would like to stay for entertainment after dinner. Tickets may be purchased at the Hunan House or at Herald Store in Herald.
“We realize, without the generous support of the community, our work could not go on,” said Stribling. “We have families in our community who need our support when tragedy strikes. So far, the committee is seeking and making recommendations for families to help. We hope to get enough support for the fund to be able to expand and assist as many children for as long as we can. Every donation will help and be carefully considered.”
Ed Waldo Fishing Derby is slated for June 7-8.
If fishing fun is your favorite pastime, then plan to add to the Waldo Children’s Fund in June when the second annual Ed Waldo Fishing Derby comes to Lake Amador.
With a top prize of $500 for the biggest bass, $300 for the largest trout, and $150 for the largest non-target fish, just to start, the fishing derby is a perfect family-friendly adventure that allows local families to help others in need.
Being held June 7-8, the fishing derby is much more than just a day on the lake fishing. No, this event includes a barbecue on Saturday, raffle and free fishing on June 7, the state’s free fish day.
There will be a special breakfast on Sunday at 6 a.m. for an additional $5, and an afternoon BBQ on Sunday at 2 p.m., also an additional $5.
Cost for this event is $25 for adults and $10 for kids 10 and under. The derby begins on June 7 at sunrise with weigh-ins at 8 p.m. on Saturday, and a final weigh-in at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Don’t forget to buy raffle tickets for the event either, because the prizes can’t be beat.
With prizes like 12-gauge shotguns, auto detail and service products, food prizes, gift certificates to a wide variety of local businesses, hunting packages, lift tickets, rounds of golf, vacation packages in Lake Tahoe, and fly fishing lessons, who needs to be convinced that buying raffle tickets at the fishing derby is a good idea?
Seven tickets will cost only $5, but the deals get better; $10 gets you 15 tickets, $20 buys 34 tickets and, for a $100 donation, you will receive 200 tickets for the best chance at a big win.
Take your car to Ron’s Auto Service and Galt Super Lube and stretch your car-care dollars into charity, as each fishing derby participant who receives service will add $2 to the children’s fund on all services performed from June 1 to Aug. 30.
Tickets for the fishing derby may be purchased at the Hunan House in Galt, Herald Store in Herald, Shangri La restaurant in Lodi, or by calling Stribling at (209) 327-3377 or (775) 266-1204.
You can also call Lake Amador for discounted camping and parking rates for tournament fisherman, as well as tickets for the event, at (209) 274-4739.
For information on line about these events or about the Ed Waldo Children’s Fund online, visit friendsofedwaldo@yahoo.com or at eddiewaldochildrenfund.com. You can mail donations or inquiries to the fund at Ed Waldo Children’s Fund P.O. Box 819, Galt, CA 95632.
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