MARYSVILLE For Marysville chiropractor Bob DeFever, 101 Dalmatians is chump change.
The back doctor has been raising money for the Marysville Fire District Foundation to pay for stuffed Dalmatian dolls to comfort children at the scene of fires and other emergencies and this year his office raised $2,100 with the help of several local businesses. DeFever has been raising money for the foundation for nine years, and this year he and his staff went the extra distance, raising the largest amount ever.
We kind of put a little extra effort into it, DeFever said as he handed the check to fire district officials last month.
Becky Hader is a receptionist in the office and spearheaded the effort, contacting local businesses getting them to sign on. About 14 sponsors signed on at $100 each, and DeFever contributed about $500, Hader said. She has been with DeFever for about a year and started visiting business to explain the need for fundraiser.
That was fun, I just got a really great reception from everyone, Hader said. They made it easy on me. They were all very enthusiastic. They all liked that it was local funds and that it would be used within their community.
Corporate contributors included Roy Robinson Chevrolet, Harv and Jan Jubie, Espresso Avenue, Marysville Floral, Browns Plumbing, Loren Van Loo, North County Bank, Kim Kron, Tom and Carolann Nixon, Grandview Village, Whitfields Insurance, Gary Baker and a local couple named Heitman who just walked in off the street one day and donated $200 to the cause.
The idea came because the fire department originally had funds to purchase these Dalmatians and about nine years ago those funds were switched, Hader explained.
A fire district firefighter was a patient and friend of Dr. Bob and they figured out a way to make up for the loss.
Thats how it kind of came together, Hader said. When the fire department responds to a crisis call, they give the Dalmatians to children to comfort them.
This year was a lot of money and MFD foundation might use some of the funds for other purposes, since they would be swimming in stuffed dogs. The chiropractor does many other fundraisers, according to Hader, but this is one of his favorites.
Its just a really important thing to him.