Dunk You Very Much!

Newaygo High School senior Sophia Frisbie waits for a fastball to drop her in the dunk tank on Wednesday, July 17, at the National Baby Food Festival.

Gerber Memorial thanks community for supporting dunk tank fundraiser
Money will support community health programs, from school wellness to support groups
 
FREMONT– Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial on Wednesday, July 24, thanked the Newaygo County community for helping raise more than $350 for local community health programs, by chipping in loose change for a dunk tank at the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce’s recently concluded National Baby Food Festival.
 
“Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial is grateful for all the people who donated to the dunk tank fundraiser and support local programs that help bring health and wellness to Newaygo County school kids and families,” said Loretta Towne, Spectrum Health Foundation Gerber Memorial specialist. “We’re thankful to see people from all backgrounds and of all ages step up to support programs throughout our community to help families achieve their health and wellness goals. We had some great head-to-head matchups throughout the week and folks had a lot of fun getting people they know take a quick dip.”
 
Gerber Memorial’s community health programs include childhood nutrition seminars, wellness education for more than 4,000 elementary students in the county, tobacco cessation classes and support groups.
 
One of the marquee dunk-tank matchups pitted Newaygo High School Principal Brad Reyburn against Fremont High School Assistant Principal Brett Westerlund to see who would raise more money. The Saturday, July 20, showdown moments before a massive thunderstorm fell on Fremont ended in a tie: Both men, dressed in their respective school shirts, raised $35 each during their 30-minute stints in the tank. Justin Aman, Tamarac Wellness Center supervisor, raised $60 during his hourlong shift in the tank on Friday, July 19, trying mightily to catch the $62 that was ultimately the record for an hour-long one-person shift, set by Newaygo High School senior Sophia Frisbie in the tank on Wednesday, July 17, with the help of Gerber Memorial Administrative Assistant Kerri Wiseman serving as the designated “heckler” challenging passersby to dunk Frisbie.

“We could not have done this without the brave volunteers who stepped into the dunk tank and took a dip in cold water for the sake of supporting our community health programs, and we want to express our deepest thanks to them,” Towne said.
 National Baby Food Festival Co-coordinator Sydney Baird presented Towne with the total $355 raised on Wednesday.
 For more information about the Foundation at Gerber Memorial, contact Towne at 231.924.3681 or email [email protected].
 For questions about the NBFF or the Gerber Memorial dunk tank fundraiser, contact the Fremont Chamber of Commerce at 231.924-0770.

National Baby Food Festival Co-coordinator Sydney Baird presents Loretta Towne, Spectrum Health Foundation Gerber Memorial specialist, with the $355 raised at the dunk tank.