Money poured out of residents' pockets at the fundraising Tribute to LaVerne Kindree on Saturday night (Nov. 24). The Rotary Club fundraiser reached its goal twice over raising $192, 017 -with some proceeds yet to be tallied - rather than the targeted $100,000. All the evening's proceeds go to the Squamish Health Care Foundation Society.
"It was just mind blowing," said co-organizer George McKenzie, who began planning the event a year ago. "It was an incredible night. There's never been anything like it in Squamish."
Much of the money came from three families: June and Bill Manson, John and Colleen Drenka and guests of honour, Laverne and Norma Kindree. Each family matched each other's $21,000 donation. On Sunday morning, the Drenkas decided to come out on top of the rivalry, bumping their donation up to $25,000.The money raised will take a significant chunk out of the $641,823 needed to expand the emergency department at Squamish General Hospital and the long-term care facilities at Hilltop House.
Co-organizer Bill McNeney said the number of people who came out to support Dr. Kindree "wowed" him. He added he never expected the doctor to make such a substantial donation of his own.
"I said, this fundraising stuff is going to cost you so much you'll end up in the poor house," McNeney recalled. The event turned the Brennan Park gymnasium into a swank gala room with a canopied cloth ceiling, French cuisine and live jazz music tinkling overhead.
"They've even got rug on the floor," exclaimed Alice Christie, tapping her toe on the grey carpet.Joanne Ennis said she was most impressed by the food, noting that serving course after course to a room of more than 300 people is an intimidating feat.
An army of servers from the Squamish Valley Country Club, White Spot and Howe Sound Secondary's Interact Club served the food. Without enough kitchen space at Brennan Park or the golf course, the meals were cooked at the high school and transferred over in warm plates.
Dinner began with sweet potato and Anjou pear soup with crème fraiche and finished off with Neapolitan mousse.Despite the lavish setting, Dr. Kindree's son Paul Kindree ensured the evening was free of pretension. The room broke out with laughter as he described his father's Sunday night safety talks with tales pulled from his experiences as coroner.There was also plenty of praise for Norma Kindree, the doctor's longtime wife and co-worker.
"Behind every great man there is an even greater women, and there is no greater woman for Laverne than Norma," said Paul. Laverne also expressed his gratitude for her, saying it would have been difficult for any woman to go home to him after a stressful day as his nurse.
"The worst thing is you have to go to bed with that son-of-a-bitch and you have to pretend you love him when you want to wring his neck," he said, adding, "Norma, I love you."He also credited his wife with helping him see the human side of patients rather than the scientific side of their illnesses.Dr. Kindree's ever-present ties were shared throughout the evening, draped around the necks and shoulders of both men and women. The ties were given out with balloons as part of a fundraiser that brought in $5,600.
In a skit narrated by former nurse Doreen Ramus, Dr. Kindree's old coworkers joked that his pajama pants could sometimes be seen peeking out from under his the suit and ties he would wear to midnight calls.Before the night wrapped up, the chance to cut off one of the doctor's infamous ties was auctioned off.Kindree's own children nabbed the scissors with a bid of $3,200.
This Thursday, the last leg of the event will wrap up with a draw for one table to win $1,000. The giveaway was postponed during the celebration due to a lack of time.
