Save the Date for the 5th Annual Concert and Shootout ~ May 12 & 13, 2011
Winter Newsletter
| Letter From the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Larry Toon
As the year winds down, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude for your support of Elizabeth Toon Charities. As we approach the end of our fourth year, we find happiness in looking back on the milestones we’ve achieved and the children and families that we have helped. We’re pleased to announce that this year we’ve been able to provide gifts to twice the number of organizations than in previous years. We’re so thankful to be sponsored by some of Dallas’ most notable and respected businesses and we’re happy to have added some new big corporate sponsors in 2010 like Sewell Family of Automotive Dealerships and Goodman Networks. This is all a result of your generous giving of time and resources. Our important work is spearheaded by our wonderfully talented Executive Director, Jessica Gates. Her love, passion, and dedication to raising awareness for Elizabeth Toon Charities and increasing the organization’s reach have been tremendous. On behalf of our Board of Directors and our extraordinary Events Planning Committee, thank you for supporting Elizabeth Toon Charities. On behalf of the Toon Family, thank you for your love and friendship. With your continued support, we look forward to continuing our mission in 2011. Merry Christmas, Larry Toon Chairman of the Board of Directors |
|
~ Save the Date ~ 5th Annual Memorial Concert and Shootout Thursday, May 12th & Friday, May 13th The entertainment promises to be bigger and better than ever with some of Texas’ finest musicians at Gilley’s Dallas followed by the sporting clay tournament at the Dallas Gun Club! Be on the lookout for additional details in the New Year and be the first to sign up your team!
|
|
2011 Beneficiaries Selected by the Distribution Committee and Elizabeth Toon Charities Board of Directors We are very excited to announce the 2011 Charity Recipients. Our team is dedicated to ensuring we are helping children in need in all areas including health, education, therapy and children facing challenging disabilities and terminal illnesses. Each one of these charities carries out the mission and values we strive for at ETC. They are doing to their best to improve the lives of children in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Camp John Marc Camp Summit Chase’s Place Children’s Craniofacial Association Children’s Medical Center – Palliative Care Program Community Partners of Dallas Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Educational First Steps Heroes for Children ManeGait Scottish Rite Hospital The Rise School of Dallas |
Fall 2010 Newsletter
Letter From the Executive Director, Jessica Gates
As we are approaching the end of our fourth year of Elizabeth Toon Charities (ETC), it brings me so much excitement to see how far we have come. I just recently celebrated my one year anniversary as Executive Director of ETC and I can’t believe how quickly the year has gone by. For me, the most amazing part of the year has been the number of people who have reached out to me because they have heard Elizabeth’s story and have been touched by her life. Whether they knew her or not there seems to be a connection for everyone. Each person who hears about our work wants to know more. There have been several touching moments from this past year for me to share:
• Speaking with visitors of the Old Rock Church who have called to tell me they are overwhelmed with its beauty and so grateful to us for helping restore it.
• Receiving an e-mail from one of Elizabeth’s college classmates who has heard about what we are doing and wants to know how they can help in any way.
• And most importantly, providing financial support for our wonderful beneficiary charities and seeing the smiles of gratitude on the children’s faces.
All of these moments have made me so proud to be involved with ETC.
Elizabeth touched so many lives in her short 22 years and I am so grateful to be a part of helping her continue to give back. I have realized in this past year that our message goes beyond helping children in need. Our organization exists today to show people that in the midst of tragedy and sadness you can create something good. Although we might not understand it, we can accept God’s plan and use it to help others in need. Elizabeth would be proud of everyone’s part in helping make ETC a success! So thank you to all of our donors, committee members and volunteers of ETC for making an impact on children’s lives.
Since 2007 we have raised more than $1.3 million and have provided donations to 11 Children’s Charities. The grant applications are pouring in and we need your donations to continue helping children across Texas. Please visit our website www.elizabethtooncharities.org to make donations online or to view pictures from the 4th Annual Memorial Concert and Shooutout events and to stay up to date with what we have planned for the upcoming year.
Sincerely,
Jessica Gates
Executive Director
4th Annual Elizabeth Toon Memorial Concert & Shootout
Elizabeth Toon Charities would like to thank our many friends, families and corporate supporters from the bottom of our hearts. The 4th Annual Concert and Shootout marked another great year and the success of our event would not have been possible without your support.
Bruce Robison, Jack Ingram, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Wade Bowen
Photograph by: Lee Baker with TSRH
Our Concert and Shootout raised over $310,000! The funds raised from this year’s shootout were donated to Camp John Marc, Scottish Rite Hospital, Clayton Dabney Foundation, Rise School of Dallas, Ronald McDonald House and Snowball Express. We are so thankful to each of these charities for all of the incredible work they provide for children and their families in need. They each represent our mission and goal to touch children’s lives.
Front Row: TSRH patient Blaine Balliett (sitting); Wade Bowen; Ray Wylie Hubbard; Jack Ingram and Bruce Robison
Photograph by: Lee Baker with TSRH
This year marked our largest attendance so far with over 800 people at the concert at the House of Blues and over 55 teams participating in the shootout. Our amazing concert was kicked off by Brice Beaird who opened the show with a tribute to the Old Rock Church and the debut of his music video presented by 41 Entertainment. It was a touching opening to the evening and a great remembrance of Elizabeth. The evening continued with an exciting Live Auction that raised $68,000. Our four wonderful artists Jack Ingram, Wade Bowen, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Bruce Robison stole the stage by entertaining us with their story-telling and talented music. It was a special evening enjoyed by all.
The following day we held our shootout which included beautiful weather, excellent BBQ from Dickey’s and some not too bad shooting. We had great competitors this year with the winners taking home shotguns from Berretta Gallery for each member of the team. First place went to Sanders Thompson with the Transwestern team, Second place to Lou Schaufele and the Bosque Boys and Third place to Bill Vanderstraaten and the Chief Partners LP Team. Congratulations to all of our fine shooters.
From left to right: Mark Reeder, Lynn Dowdle, Frank Bullock, Ryan Johnson, and Jason Puig
Photograph by: Thomas Hyde with TSRH
This year we added a new fundraising element for the Shootout teams to raise money from their friends, family and coworkers. All the teams raised an incredible amount of donations. A special thanks to the top fundraising teams, Earl and the Fire Marshall’s for raising $7,185 and Ben Hickey for raising $5,715.
Volunteers of ETC with Blaine Balliet of TSRH
Photograph by: Thomas Hyde
Our annual event is very special to all who knew and loved Elizabeth, and through your generous donations we are able to help carry out our mission to serve children and their families in need through the inspiration of Elizabeth’s legacy of faith, hope and love.
125th Anniversary and Rededication of the Old Rock Church
The Old Rock Church 2010
Photograph by: Bob Strickland
June 12th Anniversary Celebration
This summer also marked the completion of the Old Rock Church Renovation and Rededication. Elizabeth Toon Charities has worked with the community of Cranfills Gap to restore the Old Rock Church over the last year. The project included the restoration of the historic church to its original 1886 Norwegian style. We’d like to give a special thank you to Michael Swaldi for volunteering his time and talent to help spearhead the project and work with the church congregation.
The Old Rock Church celebrated its 125th anniversary and restoration this past June with more than 400 people in attendance. Guy and Geneva Finstad, members of the church and leaders of the project, planned a wonderful all day event with a church service, organ concert, recognition ceremony and homemade brisket BBQ lunch. Our own Larry Toon emceed the event. It was a blessed day for all who attended.
The church is open to visitors seven days a week from dawn until dusk. We hope you all have a chance to visit this beautiful historic landmark. For more pictures of the church restoration please visit www.elizabethtooncharities.org. A special thank you to Bob Strickland for taking the wonderful pictures of the church.
Behind the Scenes at the Old Rock Church with Michael Swaldi
We approached the full restoration from the perspective of ensuring we were historically sensitive and as accurate as possible in bringing the Old Rock Church back to its original condition. We completely replaced the roof with a wood roof as was originally built. The foundations were stabilized to ensure the continued impressive condition of the building for another 125 years.
Inside of the newly renovated church
Photograph by: Bob Strickland
We stripped off several decades of exterior paint and plaster that had all been added over the years, but was not part of the original design. We repaired all of the old original masonry and mortar work on the exterior to match the original finished walls that gave the sanctuary its nickname. The steeple was completely reworked with new metal roofing, a Cross, detailed woodwork, shutters and exterior wood cladding. The windows were all repaired, made operable and re-glazed. We rebuilt the old original shutters to match existing originals that were found stored in the attic. The front and rear doors were rebuilt to match historical photos and stained a deep natural wood color to keep with the spirit of bringing back all of the old, unfinished, natural materials. The interior walls and ceiling were restored to their original intended colors and interior stone walls were re-plastered around the windows.
The Old Rock Church completed restoration
Photograph by: Bob Strickland
The floors were all taken apart, board by board and each board was individually sanded and repaired and the floor reassembled. The pulpit was restored to its original position within the wooden altarpiece, and the old original foot pedal organ was rebuilt and is now operable again.
In short, we have rebuilt and restored the original building as closely as we could to the way it looked shortly after its original completion. The restoration process was like seeing the renewal and rebirth of all that reminds one of springtime, happening in the form of a simple, elegant and sacred building. It was an impactful and beautiful thing to experience.
News: DonorBridge Supports Elizabeth Toon Charities
Thank you to all of our donors who stepped up and contributed to the Get Up and Give! North Texas Giving Day on September 8th through DonorBridge. Every dollar given during that day received a portion of $700,000+ in matching funds – making your dollars go further. Your donations will go a long way in helping us support children in need. We are anxious to hear from the Communities Foundation of Texas on how much Elizabeth Toon Charities raised. We will keep you posted on our success!
Every dollar goes further on September 8th
On September 8, 2010, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Elizabeth Toon Charities is taking part in Get Up and Give! North Texas Giving Day. On September 8, every donation above $25 will be matched if you donate to us through www.donorbridgetx.org, an online resource to connect donors with nonprofit organizations like us.
Please visit the site anytime between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., search for our nonprofit and click “Donate Now.” Your donation will go a long way in helping us support children in need, plus every dollar given at any time during the day will receive a portion of $700,000+ in matching funds – making your dollars go further.
If you’re concerned about the busiest times on the site, visit and donate on off-hours, 10-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. Again, all donations over $25 donated between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. will be matched by some percentage.
It doesn’t matter when you give, just remember to get up and give – whether out of bed, from your desk, or off your couch, just give!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at jessica@Elizabethtoon.org.
Cranfills Gap church celebrates 125th anniversary along with restoration
By Chelsea Quackenbush Tribune-Herald staff writer
Sunday June 13, 2010
Seven generations of the Knudson family have been a part of the Old Rock Church in Cranfills Gap.
Children are married, nieces and nephews are baptized and loved ones are mourned at the church and cemetery.
Family ties to the church, also known as St. Olaf’s Kirke, are not rare in this town.
More than 400 people came to mark the 125th anniversary of the newly restored church.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald
Rita Hanson’s family has been part of the church for five generations. Geneva Finstad’s great-grandfather built it.
Finstad and her husband, Guy, spearheaded a restoration project for the church. It began a few years ago.
More than 400 people celebrated the restoration Saturday, as well as the church’s 125th anniversary.
“I grew up going to this church,” Geneva said. “I was baptized here. My oldest son was married here. My great-granddaughter was just baptized here.”
The Lutheran church was built in 1886 by Norwegian settlers.
Before Old Rock, townspeople attended the church in Norse, a nearby town with deep Norwegian roots. But settlement rapidly moved westward and they needed a church closer to home.
Finstad’s great-grandfather invited the pastor and some people over for dinner one Sunday after church, Finstad said. The pastor said he would preach at both churches if they built a new one, closer to their home.
The church body grew quickly after its inception, and weekly worship services were moved in 1917 to a location in the center of town.
Special services are still held at Old Rock, like the candlelight Christmas Eve service and the sunrise Easter service.
Weddings are the most common ceremony.
Elizabeth Toon dreamed of getting married at the church from the moment she saw it.
“She said ‘Daddy, I want to get married here,’ ” Elizabeth’s father, Larry Toon, recalled. “(The church) is very near and dear to our hearts.”
But Elizabeth’s dream was not fulfilled.
She was killed in a hit-and-run accident in 2006 when she was 22.
Pastor Ann Koopman preaches from an elevated pulpit Saturday at St. Olaf’s Kirke in Cranfills Gap.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald
Elizabeth Toon Charities
Her friends and family started Elizabeth Toon Charities, a nonprofit organization that supports children in need throughout Texas.
Elizabeth Toon Charities took a special interest in the Old Rock restoration project because of her dream.
The charity provided $92,000 to fund renovations of the church and cemetery. They plan on donating another $20,000 for ongoing improvements.
The Toon family first visited the church nine years ago this week, a coincidence that coincided with the 125th anniversary.
Larry Toon lauded the community’s enthusiasm for the project. He said the contracting company from San Antonio fell in love with the church, “just like everyone else does.”
“It’s a place where the whole community comes together,” he said. “You leave all your differences at the gate.”
Church members said the entire community came out to help with the restoration. They hired historical architects to bring it back to its original condition.
The church still lacks plumbing and electricity. Architects were amazed to uncover the perfect lines of limestone on the exterior.
Inside, they chipped away the paint until they found the original colors.
“The red and green are very common in Norway,” Geneva Finstad said.
The elevated pulpit remains the most unusual feature of the church.
Guy and Geneva Finstad coordinated the Old Rock restoration project a few years ago.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald
Although it was originally lifted when built, the pastor had it lowered in 1912 “to be seen and heard,” Finstad said. “He wanted to be among the people, not above them.”
After a debate, the church decided to raise the pulpit back to its original place.
“It was inspiring” to preach from the elevated pulpit, pastor Ann Koopman said after the service Saturday. “It was new; you can see the faces, and you can really catch the spirit.”