MARYSVILLE The party is coming to a firehouse near you, courtesy of the Marysville Fire District Foundation.
The MFD Foundation gives scholarships to young students working toward a career in the firefighting or emergency medical fields, and for some time has donated and auctioned off birthday parties to help other charities raise funds.
Now that the parties have been so successful the Foundation wants to up the ante, offering as many parties as possible to shore up the scholarship funds. The $500 bequests are given in honor of past fire district employees and help future paramedics and firefighters get the technical training they need.
They are for students in the Marysville area and they are for any fire related or EMT related class, explained Martin McFalls, a firefighter and foundation member. That helps kids who are looking at the fire services or emergency medical field as a career.
The bait to raise more funds is the chance to win a birthday party in one of the district firehouses. The kids get cake and ice cream and a ride in a fire truck, as well as a tour of the fire station. Its been a great success for other groups and in the past the parties have been donated by the Foundation to help them. That will continue but now the Foundation will be raising funds that way too, according to Kay Smith, a director of the fire district and member of the foundation board of directors. She would like to raise at least $1,000 next year. The Foundation was doing three per year, and McFalls would like to auction off many more.
Were hoping to do as many as the community demands this year, he said.
Last Saturday Kjell Anderson was celebrating his third birthday in Station 51 on Shoutes Road with pizza and friends. His grandmothers bought the party at an auction, only after furiously bidding with each other for the win, according to Sue Anderson of Marysville.
We couldnt wait to bid on this because we thought Kjell would love it, Anderson said.
The auction was in April of last year and neither of Kjells grammas could remember exactly how much they paid: it was between $150 and $200 dollars.
I was so anxious to get it I was bidding against you, Lindy Hagerman recalled to Anderson. Shes the other gramma. Then I thought Why this isnt quite right.
They both said the kids love the present, and mother Lisa Anderson of Marysville noted that the auction raised funds for the Marysville Cooperative Preschool where she works and where Kjell attends.
It helps run the preschool, she explained, noting her son was in heaven, with the red fire hats and toy truck on the table. This is our first time. Hes pretty excited about it.
Gramma Anderson said the Foundation was on the right track and should reap the benefit.
I think they should do give more of them out to the community, Anderson said. Its a great fundraiser and its always good PR.
For more information contact the Marysville Fire District Foundation at 1635 Grove Street, Marysville, 98270 or call 360-363-8500.