The 10th Annual Bowls for Hope event held March 5 at UW-River Falls raised $8,000 for River Falls Sunshine Fund, a compassionate high school student lead nonprofit organization that offers help to families and students in the greater River Falls area in times of crisis. Sunshine Fund board members and students at the event gathered for a photo.

10th Annual Bowls for Hope event raised $8,000 for River Falls Sunshine Fund

March 21, 2019 -The 10th annual Bowls for Hope event held March 5 at UW-River Falls raised $8,000 for River Falls Sunshine Fund. Each year UWRF collaborates with the community to raise funds through Bowls for Hope for a worthy organization that makes a difference in the St. Croix Valley.

River Falls Sunshine Fund is a compassionate high school student lead nonprofit organization that offers help to families and students in the greater River Falls area in times of crisis. The organization offers support when family members pass, battle cancer, or have other hardships by providing gas cards, meal vouchers, and other forms of support.

“Thank you just seems so inadequate for the opportunity this event provided The Sunshine Fund. So much more than the monetary piece,” said River Falls Sunshine Fund Board Member Melissa Godden. “It was wonderful to look around the room to see all the different segments of our community in attendance. All of them laughing, sitting with people they haven’t seen for a while or that they just met. Families young and old. It’s a great event that brings this community together with the university.”

Guests voted for their favorite soup of the evening and this year's winner of the People’s Choice Award went to Chef Paul Howie of the Copper Kettle for his smoked chicken sweet potato chowder. The restaurant owners and chefs also voted for their favorite soup of the evening and the winner of the Chef’s Choice Award was also Copper Kettle’s chowder.

Participating restaurants providing and serving soup were Belle Vinez, Bo's 'N Mine, Copper Kettle, Junior's Restaurant and Tap House, Kilkarney Hills, Kinni Cafe, Mei Mei's Cookies, Paddy Ryan's Irish Pub, River Falls Area Hospital Dining Services, UWRF Chartwells Dining Services, West Wind Supper Club, and WE Market Co-op.

Artists contributing bowls were Marilyn Anderson, Donna Badje, Ingrid Bjerstedt-Rogers, Eoin Breadon, Brick House Music, Bob Brodersen, Tom Caflisch, Bill Campbell, Cheryl Carter, Patrick Casanova, Paul Dresang, Roger Evans, Jay Jensen, Randy Johnston, Kinnickinnic Clayworks, LLC, Michael Luethmers, Pat McCardle, Jan McKeachie-Johnston, Wendy Olson, S.C. Rolf, and Rhonda Willers.

Art classes contributing bowls this year included Michael Helke's ceramic classes at UWRF, Breadon's glass studio classes at UWRF, Renaissance Academy classes taught by Kyle Stapleton, River Falls High School ceramic classes taught by Taylor Berman and Kelyn King's class at Meyer Middle School. Special again this year were bowls made by Brodersen from clay that belonged to the late Doug Johnson. 

To date, Bowls for Hope has raised more than $60,500 for local charitable organizations.

For more information, email mary.vangalen@uwrf.edu or visit www.uwrf.edu/bowlsforhope.