ARCS Auction Successful in Supporting Graduate Students

Cathi Hatch & Dennis Evans
in his festive colorful regalia.

It was a beautiful evening on Sunday when we arrived at the Chihuly Garden and Glass for the annual ARCS Foundation Auction.  There were annoying and very loud protesters at the entrance to the museum trying to convince the ARCS guests to boycott the event.  Ken, who has been completely supportive of the value of the museum at the Seattle Center from the early discussions, was ready to get into a fight with one of the protesters.  I had to drag  him away reminding him that the protester was (a lot) younger and very fit.  Whew!  Crisis avoided!

Of course, once we walked inside the gate, we were transported to a magical, fairyland of vividly hued glass "plants" and "trees" in the garden and then into the Glasshouse with the incredible orange and gold glass floral sculpture hanging overhead.  Once we were seated, I especially enjoyed capturing the Space Needle and the floral sculpture within my sight at the same time.    

Sheila Noonan, Elizabeth Roberts, Cathi Hatch

The Co-chairs, Vicki Griffin, Marnie Briggs Stamper and Andrea Thoreson did a fantastic job with the table decorations.  The flowers were bright and colorful and very Chihuly-like and the lime green tablecloths were high-energy and matched the color of my outfit perfectly.  I couldn't decide if it was good or bad that I matched the tablecloths, but I loved the tablecloths anyway.

During the cocktail hour and dinner, it was fun to catch up with many ARCS friends and guests including Nancy Mee &

Alta Barer, Cathi & Ken Hatch

Alice Weymuller & Dennis Evans

Dennis Evans, Sandy & Kent Carlson, Carlyn Steiner, Susan & Bill Potts, Lynn & Steve Mowe, Jacque & Rick Doane, Alice & Ernie Weymuller, Mickey & Bob Flowers, Howard Wright, Sheila Noonan, Elizabeth & Jon Roberts, Carmen & Carver Gayton,  Julie Tall, Alta & Stan Barer, Nancy & Doug Norberg, Margaret Breen & Stewart Landefield and our son and daughter-in-law, Michael & Alicia Hatch.

This event is all about raising money to provide financial awards to academically outstanding students studying to complete graduate degrees in science, engineering and medical research at University of Washington and Washington State University.  The auction included only 22 live auction items, but the crowd was very generous raising nearly $650,000 including four new $75,000 endowment gifts, eight new fellowships and four shared fellowships.