Many downtown businesses are temporary homes to 20 different chairs created by local artists for the 10th Chair-ity for Children fundraiser, coordinated by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Central Oregon. It benefits Central Oregon’s Sparrow Club.

Each chair is upcycled; most having been found at a garage sale or thrift store, said Joann Wheeler, coordinator of the event and director of the GFWC of Central Oregon.

Local businesses, including one in Eagle Crest, paid $50 at the beginning of April to sponsor each chair. A public silent auction takes place at each business until the end of the month. Winners will be announced when bidding closes at 5 p.m. April 30.

“It’s fun and it gets people downtown and introduces them to the businesses here,” said Suzanne Tarbet, owner of Red Martini Wine Bar & Grill, which sponsored a chair this year. “It also shows that (our community) is engaged and that we care. We have a vested interest in helping each other, right here in our own backyard.”

Chair-ity for Children has raised more than $18,000 in its past nine fundraisers. Some years were skipped since 2004, the fundraiser’s inaugural year, so the GFWC could catch up on club operations. Wheeler said there is a possibility the next fundraiser will have to wait until 2018.

All proceeds from the fundraiser go to the Sparrow Club, and Wheeler hopes to see the fundraiser bring in more than $2,000 this year.

“It is an incredible experience working with the GFWC and being the beneficiary of the Chair-ity for Children event,” Michael Leeland, Central Oregon regional director for Sparrow Clubs USA, wrote in an email. “This is arguably the most unique fundraising event that any group has conducted for Sparrow Clubs. As well as being unique, it is extremely successful.”

Five-year-old Lily Moore, the Sparrow for Tom McCall Elementary and Elton Gregory Middle schools, is being sponsored by the fundraiser. When Moore was barely more than a year old, she was diagnosed with RETT syndrome, a genetic mutation that affects every aspect of development, according the Sparrow Club website. Money raised will support her trips to the doctor as well as purchase an updated communication device to help her interact with those around her, according to the website.

The fundraiser connects different parts of the community through art, Wheeler said. Six Redmond School District students “upcycled” chairs, four GFWC members made chairs, and the remaining 10 were made by local artists.

“We’re able to involve the entire community,” Wheeler said. “We have student artists, professional artists, and artists wannabes like myself. We are just proud to get the community involved.”

All of the chairs are inscribed with handmade art and paintings. One of the chairs from the last fundraiser was auctioned off for more than $500.

“I’m excited about the culture we have here in Redmond,” Tarbet said. “And the Sparrow clubs do amazing things with their program.”

Wheeler took inspiration for the event from a national GFWC convention in Arizona about 15 years ago. After she started the GFWC of Central Oregon in 2003, she got to work setting up Chair-ity for Children for the Central Oregon community.

Although this is its largest event, the GFWC is busy year-round with multiple projects. These include city beautification — maintaining downtown flower plots, work with Saving Grace domestic violence prevention and the club’s juniorette program. The club year is from September to June, so members can spend time outdoors with family. Wheeler said the club is open to new members, and it had five new members join this past year.

“Making a difference in your community is what the GFWC is all about,” Wheeler said. “And we are making a difference in our community … If you care and share that, then you can do something for your community,”

Although Chair-ity for Children may not happen next year, Wheeler said the GFWC plans to continue coordinating the fundraiser. She did mention she receives calls throughout the year from interested artists looking to donate an upcycled chair, so Chair-ity for Children remains a possibility next year.

But for now, Wheeler will continue to check in on this year’s chairs, watching the silent auction bids creep slowly upward, until about five days before bidding closes. That’s when Wheeler says bidding parties can be spotted hovering over their prospective chairs.

“It makes a tremendous difference to have local support like this, because it shows us that people in the community are excited about having Sparrow Clubs here, and they want Sparrow Clubs to be sustainable,” Leeland said. “It shows us that community members are caring and compassionate and want to give young people chances to experience real heart change by being a part of the Sparrow Program.”

— Reporter, 541-548-2185, cbrown@redmondspokesman.com