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The Edmonds Senior Center’s fourth annual gala and auction earlier this month was the most successful in the center’s history, raising $87,000 to help support the new intergenerational Edmonds Waterfront Center that will replace the senior center building on the Edmonds waterfront.
The event was co-chaired by Cheryl Reagan, Vivian Egashira and Candy Gaul.
“The generosity of all the attendees was very evident and wonderful to see,” Egashira said.
“The funding will allow for the majority of the programs to continue while the new building is under construction,” Gaul added.
As is tradition, each year the event includes presentation of the “E” Award, which stands for the Energy, Enthusiasm and Effort and the Heart an individual contributes to the Edmonds Senior Center. Winner of the 2018 “E” Award was John Osterhaug.
Internationally acclaimed portrait artist Michael Reagan generously donated his time by creating a custom portrait that captures the heart of John Osterhaug.
“John is an extraordinary leader. He is a person of few words, but when he speaks everyone listens,” said Senior Center Executive Director Farrell Fleming. “Here at the Senior Center, he is held in high regard and with great respect. He has an instinctive sense of what is needed to make projects work.”
Fleming added that Osterhaug “came along at just the right time for the new Waterfront Center. It has been one of the great pleasures of my professional career to work closely with such a mature, balanced, committed and positive person as John.”
Osterhaug has been a volunteer at the Edmonds Senior Center for over six years, beginning as treasurer in 2014 and serving as president from 2015 to 2017. As president, he became renowned for attending all committee meetings, not something required or usual for a board president. He was the first board member to make a significant leadership donation to the center’s capital campaign, which he recently has doubled.
A retired electrical engineer, Osterhaug, was responsible for leading major projects at Honeywell. As Edmonds Center board president, he chaired the executive committee, and presently serves on the executive, building, finance, capital campaign, program and health and wellness committees.
In addition to receiving an award, Osterhaug received a custom portrait drawn by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Reagan. According to a senior center announcement, Reagan generously donated his time to create a portrait “that captures the heart of John Osterhaug.”
The Edmonds Senior Center offered thanks to the following 2018 auction donors who contributed to the event’s success:
WG Clark Construction Co.
Magic Toyota
Rick Steves Europe
Wm Grassie Wine Estate
The Bank of Washington
Environmental Works
Re-Juiced Studio
Michael Reagan Artist
Robert and Patricia Gould
Daniel Johnson & Elaine Sonntag
Margaret and Tom Mesaros
The Edmonds Senior Center is located south of the ferry on the Edmonds water front at 220 Railroad Ave. Check out the website for the latest programs at www.edmondssc.org.
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