SOS leadership is heralding this year’s class of SOS Strong Ambassadors for the dollars and, maybe more importantly, the awareness raised over the last month through the SOS Strong Campaign.
That was one of the core items that stood out to SOS Director Mickey Edwards when she spoke with KVOE News at the annual SOS Strong campaign celebration Thursday night, noting this was the largest level of awareness she can remember seeing generated by a Strong contingent.
This year’s SOS Strong was slightly different from years past, as KVOE News has previously noted, with the team of ambassadors comprised of both men and women for the first time in event history. Edwards says that she feels that move may have brought a new level of energy to the campaign this year.
In total, this year’s campaign generated just under $24,000 for SOS programs, which serve several area counties. As always, the campaign celebration included the recognition of the top fundraiser and most creative fundraiser, with the top fundraising award going to Brett Stewart, who generated nearly $3,000.
The most creative fundraiser, as voted on by SOS Staff, went to Rebecca Rodriguez-Carey for her upstander fridge, which allowed donors to have their photos adorn her refrigerator, demonstrating their willingness not to be a bystander when it comes to the issues addressed by SOS day in and day out.
The full list of SOS Strong Ambassadors was as follows:
Verlin Conkle
Amber Jewel
Dallas Larson
Justin Ogleby
Hank Osterhout
Rebecca Rodriguez-Carey
John Sandstrom
Miles Shirk
Kurt Steinkuhler
Brett Stewart
Brent Thomas
Dominick Vortherms
Janine Wagner
Scott Wichael
