SOS Strong ambassadors celebrated a, well, strong fundraising campaign Tuesday.
The campaign generated almost $51,000. It’s the second time in three years the event has topped the $50,000 mark, more than $20,000 above last year’s total and the second-highest total overall after the $62,000 raised in 2021.
Individually, Mic McGuire was the top fundraiser with nearly $12,000 generated, in large part because of a $10,000 donation from a sexual abuse survivor after talking about being victimized by abuse as a child.
Brogy Giesen was named the most creative fundraiser, setting a list of different things he would do for certain milestones — including getting pied in the face, dyeing his hair, waxing his legs, shaving his head and getting a tattoo of the SOS logo. At nearly $3,000, Giesen generated enough money to get pied and dyed.
SOS Executive Director Connie Cahoone says the effort was “incredible” and involved a lot of personal stories that resonated with donors.
SOS Strong began in 2015 and is designed to demonstrate that men can be positive role models in the battle against sexual and domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. Ambassadors pledge to lead by example, not to blame victims or engage in any acts of violence, stand up for those in need, be positive upstanders and to always speak up for what is right.
This year’s representatives were:
*Aaron Armitage
*Larry Bess
*JD Chanley
*Jeremy Dorsey
*Tracy Edwards
*Brogy Giesen
*Marcial Hernandez
*Jason Hoelting
*Tom Johnson
*Brian Jones
*Mic McGuire
*Kory Mitchell
*Joe Reed
*Nik Roth
*Rolland Trahoon
Video and photos by Dylan Sherwood/KVOE News
