Happy's Inn fundraiser supports vets, first responders
Potential bidders size up the merchandise at the silent auction at Happy's Inn on Memorial Day weekend. A fundraiser netted $35,000 for the Kalispell-based Valor Equine Therapy Service.
A big Memorial Day weekend at Happy’s Inn resulted in a large donation for a local group that works to help military personnel and first responders.
According to Happy's Kris Cole, the Gopher Derby, a silent auction and performances by Tim Montana, Copper Mountain Band and Wild Wind helped bring in $35,000 that was donated to Valor Equine Therapy Service. Nearly 100 businesses donated items to the silent auction.
Valor is a non-profit based in Kalispell and helps provide a resource for the ever-growing demand for professional assistance in mitigating the damaging effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury suffered by military veterans, law enforcers, firefighters and EMT responders.
Equine Therapeutic Programs are supervised by professional equestrian instructors who teach wounded veterans and first responders how to interact, react and care for a horse.
Cole said it’s the second straight year they’ve donated to Valor.
“The silent auction brought in $17,000 alone,” Cole said.
He added there were more than 90 teams signed up for the Gopher Derby and the winning team bagged 330 varmints.