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For a Personalized Autographed copy of “STRAWBERRIES IN WINTERTIME” or “WOODEN & ME” use the PayPal link on my home page or mail a check for $25 to:
Woody Woodburn
400 Roosevelt Court
Ventura, CA 93003
Kind Givers Make Ball Drive Big Success
“Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful day of your life,” Mark Twain wrote. And, “It is higher and nobler to be kind.”
For the ninth consecutive year of Woody’s Holiday Ball Drive, Star readers have proved themselves to be noble and kind in making Christmas Day more beautiful for local disadvantage kids.
In the spirit of the Star’s Bellringer campaign, I’d like to publicly thank those kind givers (who did not request anonymity) who were not mentioned previously:
Glen Sittel gave two basketballs, two soccer balls and one football, noting: “Knowing that many deserving kids will be receiving one of the best gifts ever always lifts my spirit.”
Linda and Tom Parizo gave a mixture of 13 soccer balls, basketballs and footballs.
Howard Reich gave two each footballs, soccer balls and basketballs. Sheila and Tom McCollum dropped off one of each, as did Thomas and Karyne Roweton.
Pam Hurley gave two each basketballs and footballs.
Jerry and Linda Mendelsohn, as has become their tradition, took grandchildren Garrick, 8, Dannika, 5, and Parker, 4, to buy and distribute 12 soccer balls and 12 basketballs. “Once again, the kids were reminded how important it is for disadvantaged kids to feel special and loved at holiday time,” Jerry noted.
Lynda Rice donated two soccer balls “in memory of my brother-in-law Dick Rice who was the kindest soul who passed away recently.”
My ol’ pal, former Star sports-writing legend Jim Parker, gave two soccer balls, as did Patricia Herman.
Sally and Tom Reeder donated a dozen assorted basketballs, footballs and soccer balls.
In memory of local coaching legend Bob Swanson, his longtime weekly “Friday Breakfast Group,” donated eight basketballs.
Jack Casey, in honor of his deceased brother Dennis, donated three soccer balls and one basketball.
Dave Long and Shirley passed out ten assists, all basketballs; Shelly and Steve Brown passed out four; Bill Wintersteen gave three; and LuAnn McDuffee donated two.
Jim and Sandie Arthur gave out two basketballs and six softballs “in honor of our two daughters who never ‘threw like a girl’ and our three grandchildren who love anything involving a ball!”
Susan Bardsley pitched in a dozen official Major League Baseballs, and Chris and Len Bates donated three cans of tennis balls.
Pat McGovern gave two soccer balls and one basketball in honor of her three grandsons ages 10, 9 and seven months.
Orvene S. Carpenter donated two basketballs and two soccer balls.
Laura Gulovsen gave “a pink/blue official soccer ball so that a girl might have her very own practice ball.”
Brad and Mia Ditto gave a mixture of 10 balls. Dropping them off Mia was inspired by the happy faces at a Boys and Girls Club to do even more. Brad shared: “My very good-hearted wife and her very generous sisters organized a toy drive” and gave 100 additional toys.
“In honor if our dad, Bob Tuttle,” wrote Toni Tuttle-Santana, she and husband Jaime, and Trudy Tuttle Arriaga and husband Raymundo, gave six balls
Kay Giles and Michael Mariani gave three soccer balls and Kathy and Ken McAlpine kicked in one soccer ball.
Tennis legends and legendary role models Mike and Bob Bryan served up 10 cans of tennis balls, 10 basketballs and 10 soccer balls.
Special thanks to Kymberly King for making two trips with her Sleigh Utility Vehicle filled to overflowing to drop off balls for foster kids.
The finally tally for this year is . . . drumroll, please . . . a whopping 471 new sports balls – up from 322 a year ago.
Thank you, dear readers. Your kindness is unbelievable.
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Woody Woodburn writes a weekly column for The Ventura County Star and can be contacted at WoodyWriter@gmail.com.
Check out my memoir WOODEN & ME: Life Lessons from My Two-Decade Friendship with the Legendary Coach and Humanitarian to Help “Make Each Day Your Masterpiece” and my essay collection “Strawberries in Wintertime: Essays on Life, Love, and Laughter” …
- Personalized signed copies are available at WoodyWoodburn.com