Out and about … with Mary Louise VanNatta

By Mary Louise VanNatta • Special to the Statesman Journal • May 9, 2010

Mentor Lee Coye and Mentee Brandon Syler - Photo By Mary Louise VanNatta

Earth week was appropriately celebrated when the Mid Valley Mentors hosted its Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser at the Mission Mill. The occasion featured local wine and microbrew tasting and live music by student drumming ensemble Emaa Da from the Early College High School.

This was my first time attending the annual fundraiser renamed this year to “Brilliant Rubbish.”

Each year, Salem-Keizer students transform one person’s trash into true treasure. It included a silent action and art contest with a judging panel that included art enthusiast Anna Peterson, Linda Jacobson of Linda Jacobson Studios, Norma Sadler Hansen of Norma’s Pottery and Deanna White of Deanna White Studios.

Mid Valley Mentors has an impressive board of directors, most of whom I saw at the event. The group recruits, trains and matches volunteer mentors with at-risk youth through its Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring program and formerly incarcerated adults through its Reentry Solutions Program.

I visited with Mid Valley Mentors Board Chair Elaine Harvey of Wells Fargo and fellow board members Mike Beyrouty of AKT Benefit Advisors, Stu VanWyngarden of PGE and Matthew Lokan of Bliss-Sequoia.

Mentors and mentees attended. Brandon Syler, a fourth grader at Mary Eyre Elementary was an adorable addition to the program, displaying the art that was being auctioned. His mentor, Lee Coyne, watched proudly and spoke earlier about his experiences. Along with some fantastic mixed-media pieces, Senator Jackie Winters and Gerry Frank donated private dinners to help raise program funds.

Volunteers Valerie Jones & Alicia Porter - Photo by Mary Louise VanNatta

Newly crowned Miss Marion-Polk Amee Erbele joined emcee Scott Mills of Opt-e-Web who charmed attendees with his British accent. Scott’s wife, Donna Mills, and friends Scott and Ingrid Sadler, Ingrid’s daughter Chris Murfin and weatherman Dave Sweeney enjoyed samples of micro-brews served by volunteers from the RAM Bighorn Brewery and Applebee’s.

Attendees left with some great and unique art pieces, and students left with inspiration for next year’s art competition.

To learn more about Mid Valley Mentors, visit www.MidValleyMentors.org.

Invite me to your event at OutandAboutSJ@live.com or follow me at twitter.com/PRSalem. See you on Sundays.