STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Advocates set a goal of $150,000. Donors exceeded it by more than $100,000.

The Advocates’ Color Our World fundraiser raised $256,000 as donors purchased colorful ribbons that were draped in Robert Cimino’s Memory Park in Ketchum. The unique fundraiser replaced the annual Black & White Soiree dinner and auction at Trail Creek Pavilion, which had been scuttled by the coronavirus pandemic.

When the fundraiser ended on Friday, 235 donors had made contributions. They purchased 173 ribbons and 599 Golden Raffle tickets.

"We were setting up one day and a woman walked by and asked what it was. I shared that it was a fundraiser for The Advocates and explained what we do. She said she knew about The Advocates because she stayed in the shelter years ago and said how her life was great now and that she wanted to make a donation," said Shannon Nichols, the organization's development director. "That made my heart happy."

 Rebecca Neeley won the Jackson Hole Holiday; Sherry and Dick St. Clair, the South of the Border Siesta; Robin Kearns, Park Place, a ski parking opportunity at Sun Valley Resort; Bobbi Nichols, the Ski for Free Sun Valley ski pass, and Mary Constant, the Brews, Barrels & Buddies party at Warfield Distillery and Brewery.

The event’s sponsors included Archive Finishing LLC, St. Luke’s Wood River, First Lite, Lloyd Construction, InnerHealth MD, Dr. Hillary Whipple DMD, Blaine County Title, The Nichols Group, Willow Papery & The Copy Center, KMV Builders and DPPM Project Management.