Fund drive tops $20,000 with Kiss the Pig finale

Josh Paparazzo, who represents the Boy Scouts on the Colfax and Community Fund Drive board, holds up a pig for Commissioner Michael Largent to kiss at the Palouse Empire Fair. Largent presented the pig with flowers prior to the big smooch and gave it a pep talk, too. Largent won the Kiss the Pig contest after $287.46 was donated to his jars around Colfax.

Colfax and Community Fund Drive concluded a year-long fund drive at the Palouse Empire Fair Friday with its Kiss the Pig finale.

The annual fund drive totaled $20,088 with the Kiss the Pig contest adding $650.98.

“That's the best we've done in the last four years,” said board member Jeannette Solimine, noting the comparison does not include the year when $20,000 was received from the estate of H.E. (Tony) Smick of Colfax.

The goal for the year was $25,000.

The drive benefits eight local agencies, including Alternatives to Violence on the Palouse, Boost Collaborative, Boy Scouts of America, Colfax Youth League, Community Action Center, Council on Aging and Human Services, Families Together For People with Disabilities and Palouse River Counseling.

Kiss the Pig featured Colfax Unified Executive Director Valoree Gregory, Colfax Mayor Todd Vanek, Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers and Whitman County Commissioner Michael Largent all in line for the task of kissing a pig at the fair. Money was collected in donation jars around Colfax in the weeks leading up to the fair, with the person receiving the most money elected to kiss the pig Friday at the fair.

Commissioner Largent won the honor with $287.46 donated to his jars. Sheriff Myers placed second with $197.15, Mayor Vanek third with $149.02 and Gregory fourth with $17.35.

Phil Misner, president of the fund drive and pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott and Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax, announced the numbers at the Gazebo at the fairground Friday afternoon.

Commissioner Largent was greeted by his son, John Largent, on stage immediately after the announcement that he had won. His son had been on the sidelines cheering for his dad to win.

“I'd just like to offer to my supporters: I will find where you live,” Largent said in his victory speech. “And a word to my son, who put $10 in my own jar of my own money that he got for mowing the lawn: He's getting coal in his stocking. I'm not going to say thank you to my supporters.”

Largent presented the pig with flowers before he kissed it.

The Colfax and Community Fund Drive will kick off for the next fiscal year in October. It will be marked by the Rotary luncheon at the Methodist church Oct. 20. Solimine reported there are ideas for the upcoming year, but nothing is set in stone.

“Right now we're concentrating on getting the kickoff going,” she said. “That's our main way of raising money.”

She reported the group will likely continue with its What A Basket drive in March, and may also do another iteration of Kiss the Pig.

“We may try something,” said Solimine, noting the possibility of a cow, hog or chicken.

Solimine said the group is in need of more volunteer help.

“We need more people who'd be willing to help us out with events,” she said. “Most of the people on the board are representatives of the agencies.”

The board will meet in the next few weeks to discuss the distribution of this year's money based on requests, participation and needs of the member organizations.

To volunteer attend the monthly Colfax and Community Fund meeting at Umpqua Bank on the second Wednesday of the month. All meetings are at noon. Those wishing to volunteer can also [email protected].

Solimine said the group will welcome any volunteer help, and she added the group is thankful for the contributions received.

“Thank you to the city of Colfax and the surrounding areas,” she said.