Whitefish Winter Festival set March 7-9
By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News
There is no doubt that the Flathead has a lot to offer in terms of recreation. A long list of celebrities have come to the valley for many years, and many like it so well that they return for more enjoyment.
The 23rd annual Whitefish Winter Classic is in the spotlight the weekend of March 7-9 and includes a celebrity basketball game at Columbia Falls High School on Friday after a Meet the Players event, and a snow picnic and VIP dinner and live auction on Saturday. A champagne brunch is set for Sunday.
The Whitefish Winter Classic is a non-profit organization that raises money for local families with a child in need of pediatric care outside Northwest Montana. Doug Betters, former Miami Dolphin, created the fundraiser 24 years ago in response to hearing several stories of families trying to raise money for their sick child.
"I thought it would be great to have an organization that could do it for them," Betters says. "I wanted families to focus on their child getting well, not on getting the money."
The organization gives $40,000 to $60,000 annually in financial assistance to families. The money cover costs associated with medical treatment that are not covered by insurance, such as transportation, lodging, and food expenses.
"We are here to help," says Susan Abell, a board member of For The Children, Inc., which is the committee that disperses the funds raised by the Whitefish Winter Classic.
Families with a child age 18 or younger may apply for assistance either by downloading the application from the Web site or calling Abell directly. Once approved, the family can request up to $5,000 in financial assistance.
Whitefish Winter Classic sponsors are Whitefish Credit Union, BNSF Railway and Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Meet the Players is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at Whitefish Mountain Resort's Summit House. The basketball game at CFHS pits a team of former and current professional athletes against a local high school all-star team at 7 p.m. on Friday. Monty, the Grizzlies' mascot, is expected to put on a halftime show. There is no charge for admission; donations will be accepted.
Saturday's activities begin with a snow picnic from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Off Gray Wolf Run at the Resort. The VIP dinner and live auction starts at 5:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Tickets for the dinner/auction are $75 per person. Call 863-9283 for reservations.
According to Betters, there are about 17 players committed to attend the Whitefish Winter Classic. For more information, go to Web site www.whitefishwinterclassic.org.