Advocates raise $42,000 at charitable event

An estimated 250 Wood River Valley residents turned out for the Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence "Man-of-the-Year" fund raiser at Elkhorn Resort on Sunday night, pitching in $42,500 to support construction of a new advocates shelter in Hailey.

Long time Wood River Valley resident and Community School history teacher, Bob Doyle, was chosen as the outstanding man of the year.

In addition, several local men strutted their stuff as they helped to auction off small vacation packages. Shane Galles, assistant golf pro at The Valley Club helped to draw bids for a day of golfing along with two golf outfits provided by the club.

Grady Burnett of Sun Valley Elkhorn Realty strutted the stage and helped draw bids for a full day of fly fishing in the Sawtooth Mountains.

Dance lessons, in-line skating lessons, water skiing, rock climbing and even a trip to Costa Rica were also offered as prizes to the highest bidders.

But all the light-hearted fun was designed to serve a heavy and solemn purpose.

An average of 300 women seek help from the advocates annually, and approximately 16 calls a day are received at the advocates’ office. Law enforcement reported 375 domestic violence and court protection order violations in 1998.

This is the impetus behind construction of a shelter for abused women and children. Ground breaking for the new shelter will be tomorrow.

In January, the advocates received a conditional use permit to build and operate a 4,800 square foot facility in central Hailey that can house as many as five families at a time. They received a building permit on May 12.