Submitted by: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Bellingham
Wetsuits, nose-plugs and floaties in tow, Bellingham’s hotel General Managers are coming together in support of local charity, Blue Skies for Children, on August 25. Hosted by the Holiday Inn & Suites and co-sponsored by Café 104.1 and the Cascade Radio Group, the Beach Bash for Blue Skies charity raffle event will have games, generous prizes, live music by Lost at Last, delicious food and fun for everyone. Its main event? The GM dunk tank Dunk-Off!
Six enthusiastic GMs will compete to see who can raise the most money for Blue Skies for Children by encouraging their hotel teams to dunk them as many times as possible during their hour-long timeslot. The hotel who raises the most money receives a trophy, specially designed by Kathy Cross with Laser Point Images and ultimate bragging rights of course!
Holiday Inn & Suites General Manager, Charles Haber, will take the first plunge to let the fun commence. “Blue Skies provides much needed services to the children of Whatcom County and I look forward to being dunked as many times as possible to make an impact!”
GM contestant responses exuded both terror for being dunked and great enthusiasm for supporting Blue Skies for Children. Hotel Bellingham’s General Manager, Dana Weber, was the first to indicate his affinity for a little healthy competition, boasting, “Oh, it’s so on! I’ll bring my rubber ducky!” and Keith Coleman with Springhill Suites and Sara Holiday with Home2 Suites eagerly followed suit.
The Holiday Inn & Suites team never once doubted the local GM contestants’ willingness to participate and knew the event would gain momentum once the competitors all got on board. Simply raising awareness for an amazing organization and its effects on the lives of our communities’ under-represented children is a privilege for the Holiday Inn & Suites team and they are proud to see everyone come together. The hotels may compete for business, but their hearts are all in the right place.
The inspiration behind the event all comes from the incredible mission of Blue Skies for Children: Raising hope and self-esteem in young hearts and minds by serving our most needy children in Whatcom and Skagit counties, and making their Little Wishes come true. “We are very excited to participate in the upcoming Beach Bash for Blue Skies event to be held by the Holiday Inn and Suites. We appreciate the amazing support for our local homeless, low income and foster children,” said Julie Guay, Executive Director of Blue Skies for Children.
This mission and its impact have inspired many beyond just the competing hotels. Nearly thirty different local organizations, with more coming in each day, have generously donated gifts and services to the Beach Bash for Blue Skies raffle in support of the charity’s cause. Support and sponsorships include: Bellingham Sportsplex, Spark! Museum, StrEAT Foods, Haggen, Semiahmoo, Woodland Park Zoo, Barre3, Red Robin, Sound Beverage, Starbucks, Upfront Theater, Mindport, San Juan Cruises, Park Bowl, Bellewood Acres, Shuksan Golf, LipSense, Sierra Trading Post, Its Your Mug, Brist, Aslan Brewery, Twin Sisters Brewery and the Bellingham Bells.
With all of Bellingham’s collaborative support combined, the Beach Bash for Blue Skies charity raffle will certainly make a splash, impacting the lives of our communities’ children. You can find more details on the northwater Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northh2o/, or show your own support by attending the event on August 25, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m., at 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham WA 98226.
