Event to benefit ‘Alaska’s Healing Hearts’

WASILLA — In coming weeks, some local businesses will try to build a holiday tradition from scratch on behalf of a local charity.

The inaugural “Home for the Holidays” event, from 4 to 10 p.m., Dec. 10 at Evangelo’s Restaurant in Wasilla will benefit the U.S. military veterans group Alaska’s Healing Hearts. The event is officially sponsored by Alaska Premier Real Estate, Alaska USA Mortgage Company and Dillard Homes.

The event is set to feature a live auction starting at 7 p.m., karaoke, an appetizer buffet, cash bar and artistic Christmas decorations, according to Loi Ricker, who is helping organize the event. It also features a pun you might have missed on the first go-round.

“We’ve selected sponsors all in the home industry, to tie it in for ‘Home for the Holidays,’” Ricker said.

Ricker came up with the idea this year and, after getting approval from Alaska’s Healing Hearts, started approaching local businesses, including Alaska Premier real estate agent Janice Lobaugh, about potential sponsorship opportunities.

Lobaugh said she usually considers ways to give back to the community at large, in part because real estate laws strictly limit the dollar value of gifts agents can provide to customers. Lobaugh has given pies in the past, but changed her mind this year after hearing Ricker’s pitch.

“We thought about doing a customer appreciation party,” she said. “And then Loi approached me and said ‘Customer appreciation party or the next level?’ And me, I like the next level.”

Event organizers have lofty goals — they’re planning to raise $10,000 and host 300 visitors — especially as a newcomer to the already-crowded holiday season. The event will likely compete with other long-standing holiday celebrations, according to Ricker.

“We’re kind of like the underdogs because we’ve got Colony Christmas and other things going on,” she said.

While the event’s goals may be idealized, the need is undeniable, said James Hastings, director of operations at Alaska’s Healing Hearts. About 11,000 veterans live in the borough, though the operation doesn’t target them exclusively, Hastings said.

“What we do is recreational rehabilitation, Alaska itself as therapy,” he said.

Extended deployments can lead to higher divorce rates among veterans, which in turn can make it difficult for combined families to get outdoors together, Hastings said.

“Not only is it physically tough to take your family out, it’s difficult to please everybody” in a larger family, he said.

The group also hosted a Thanksgiving Dinner free for veterans at the Elk’s Lodge, and allowed others to participate for a nominal $10 fee.

“We’re hoping to do this with enough enthusiasm and effect that this will become a tradition,” he said.

Tickets for “Home For The Holidays” cost $30 for individuals. Businesses can book tables for eight people for $210.

To make donations, contact Ricker at 521-7872, or 373-7711.

For more information, or tickets, email jlobaugh@gci.net.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.