2007 Ski Race Another Great Success!

2007 photos

2006 Ski Race

The 22nd annual Jack Williams Ski Race for Wednesday's Child was held the second Saturday of March at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, March 11th. We again gave away a Volvo SUV and our winner this year was Suzanne Catonese of Groton, MA.

Wendy's was another principal sponsor and featured a six-week promotion starting in mid January, with coupon books selling for $1.00, with all the proceeds going to Wednesday's Child. American Airlines also was on board again this year. At the awards reception following the day of skiing, we had a grand raffle and silent auction with wonderful items available and the money going to Wednesday's Child.

We gave the Dave Thomas Memorial Award for a third straight year to Amy Dufour, being the top grossing Wendy's manager during the six week Wednesday's Child Wendy's campaign.

Tom Gross was the winner of the first annual Ruthie Antonides Award for Volunteering. Tom has helped Marci and Jack for all 22 ski races for Wednesday's Child, acting as the master of ceremonies and race announcer, as well as poster distribution and fund-raising.
Thanks Tom!

2005 Ski Race

For 21 years, skiers who support getting homes for special needs children have made their way to the heart of the White Mountains to ski for Wednesday's Child. Year after year, we see many of the same committed people. We've watched their children grow up to be adults and now are carrying on the tradition to having fun and helping.

The Jack Williams Ski Race for Wednesday's Child had a wonderful 21st annual race. I owe a lot of thanks to some special people, starting with my beloved wife Marci, who quietly puts in so many hours. I'm the whirlwind and she's the steady, solid, kind person who picks up the pieces after me.

Wendy's continues to honor the memory of Dave Thomas and his love of Wednesday's Child. They raised the most money again; the result of a six-week promotion where customers donated a dollar for a coupon book that gave them a chance to win a family vacation to Mexico.

Volvo once again donated one of their popular SUV's and the raffle brought in $125,000, all of it for the kids. Our thanks to all of you who took the time to enter and send $100 per raffle ticket. A number of people purchased more than 10 tickets (John Collins and Gretchen Fish have each done this for years).

American Airlines again came through with all the airline tickets I requested (they've been with me from the very beginning). Bernie Willett has taken great care of Wednesday's Child. We auction off the tickets and use many for promotions that translate into hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I couldn't do Wednesday's Child without all of our volunteers. We have no paid help, so it is a labor of love for these wonderful people. My key lieutenants are Joanne Bemis, Azita Ghahramani and Tom Janssen. Also, special thanks to Big Mike Rudenauer, Phil Boire (Mad Dog), Julia Christopher, Gary Tanguay, Randi Tanguay, Bob Stone (who drove all the way up from NYC), Jennifer Bien, Boomer and Jim O'Brien, Scott Downing, Rick, Kelly and Brian Bemis, and our great pals from PaySystems who all drove down from Montreal to help.

Tom Gross, famous for his on-mountain race commentary has been a part of my ski race from the beginning. He is a great friend and has been for 30 years. Another Waterville Valley resident is Lenny Emory, the most famous of the entertainers in ski country. He also has been there every ski race, entertaining us at the reception and has never charged a dime.

A special thanks also to Ruthie Antonides, and all our friends at Waterville Valley. For all these years they have never let me down. GM Tom Day and Beth, and Debbie Moore are the tops.

Not bad for an ol' ski patrolman who decided to put on a ski race for special needs adoption. Over the years, the race has raised more than $4-million.

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