November 20, 2002

PathFUNDer Cannes do attitude

Interlochen Pathfinder fund-raiser offers everything from baby-sitting to big tree

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
       From a homemade quilt to a Montana vacation, there is something for everyone at the upcoming PathFUNDer 2002.
      Scheduled for Saturday evening at the Grand Traverse Resort, PathFUNDer's theme of "Yes, We Cannes!" promises a huge party for the anticipated 350 to 400 attendees. The 30th year of the PathFUNDer fund-raiser, this year's funds are again earmarked for general operations of the Interlochen Pathfinder School.
      Cautiously optimistic about topping last year's total of $100,000, co-coordinator Sue Palisin said this money is crucial to the school's ongoing operation.
      "The money goes directly to the kids," Palisin said. "It provides up to approximately 10 percent of the school's operating budget and we need that."
      Besides the operating capital, PathFUNDer also helps create bonds among Interlochen Pathfinder School families and the community at large.
      "There are so many great fund-raisers in town so we try to focus on being not only a fund-raiser, but a friendraiser," she said. "It is an opportunity for people not only in the Pathfinder community, but in the community at large to support excellent education and have a nice time doing it."
      Students, staff, volunteers and parents have worked hard to provide items for the event's silent and live auctions. Besides numerous donations from area businesses, baby-sitting, science adventures, art projects, homemade wine and pet sitting are some of the homegrown items up for grabs. Veteran attendees work to combine their bidding on vacation packages with bidding on nanny services offered by one of the teachers.
      "People show up with their checkbooks and their planner," said Molly Bald, PathFUNDer coordinator and an alumna of the school.
      Bald noted that the decorating committee threw themselves into this year's "Yes We Cannes" theme, creating a series of white tents to decorate the ballroom and recreating a Southern France theme. Each tent will feature videos of each Interlochen Pathfinder grade in action, with students showing off their daily activities.
      "We chose this because it allows us to highlight student performance," Bald said.
      The PathFUNDer coordinators are thrilled at one very special auction item this year: a tree from the Champion Red Ash Tree in Dowagiac, Mich.
      David Milarch of Copemish and his son, Jared, who co-founded the Champion Tree Project International, donated the sapling. The Champion Red Ash Tree is 400 years old and 95-feet tall; trees from that tree have been planted in New York City, Salt Lake City, the Arlington National Cemetery and Mt. Vernon.
      The Milarch family decided to make the donation after a visit last year to the school for an Earth Day celebration. David Milarch recalled being captivated by the presentations of the students.
      "There were about 30 youngsters, mostly first, second and third graders, and they put on an amazing performance of the history of Michigan during the lumbering era, complete with costumes, coonskin caps and talking, dancing and singing," he said. "It literally choked me up, moved me to tears, it was so beautiful."
      This year the Milarch's had designated 11 trees for the Pentagon, part of a living memorial to those who lost their lives on Flight 77 and in the building during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. However, there was space for only nine trees because of a new transit station.
      When PathFUNDer organizers called him to ask for donation of another tree for the auction, Milarch decided to donate one of the remaining Champion Red Ash trees to the fund-raiser. He did this in honor of the great job the teachers are doing with the students of Interlochen Pathfinder School, hoping that the tree will become a testimony to excellence. The remaining tree will be planted at a war memorial in Grosse Pointe.
      "Whoever does purchase this tree, our piece of history will be able to be visited by our family, kids and grandchildren," Milarch said. "They will be able to enjoy it for generations, it will be a piece of living history."
      PathFUNDer 2002 "Yes We Cannes!" will be held on Saturday at the Grand Traverse Resort. Tickets are $100 per person and are considered a charitable donation. For more information or to buy tickets, call Molly Bald at 995-3813 or visit www.interlochen.org/pathfunder.