February 8, 2006
Valentines benefit right from the heart
Bill Marsh employees hold fund-raiser to aid 25-year-old co-worker who suffered stroke
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Valentine's Day will have a different meaning to Sarah Rousseau this year.
The 1998 Central High School graduate suffered a stroke January 3 and is still reeling from repercussions in all areas of her life, especially medically and financially.
Determined to help, her co-workers at Bill Marsh Automotive have banded together to work on the money part by organizing a Valentines for Sarah fund-raiser. Along with her family and friends, they want to help bridge an income gap caused by a month of missed work and current part-time duties.
"What 25-year-old thinks about buying disability insurance?" said Ron Smith, human resources director.
This Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., the GM showroom on Garfield Road will become a market place for all things Valentine: chocolates, cards and baked goods. More than 60 of the company's employees are baking treats to sell to help Sarah while another organized a donation of Valentine's Day cards from his former employer Avanti Press.
"She's just one of those people who will do anything for you," said Heather Wilson, a member of the dealership's service department. "She's very deserving of this benefit."
Other area organizations have donated treats for sale, including Sara Lee, Great Harvest Bread and the Grand Traverse Pie Company. The event will also feature a silent auction, which spontaneously came together and will offer everything from haircuts, fishing tours and golf rounds to ski passes, massages and overnights at area resorts.
"We've done quite well and most of the people have been people outside of our company that we just heard of or had a connection with," noted Smith.
Calling Sarah an "on-the-ball" employee, Smith said during her two years at the company she had moved from receptionist to cashier to her current position as manager of the quick service facility. Her success and determination at work is now helping her overcome the physical challenges left by the stroke.
"She a very independent person, that's her personality," said Smith. "She was with a walker because she couldn't walk and in the hospital, she said she had to get rid of that because there were 80-year-old men walking faster than her. So she ditched that and got a cane and then ditched that because everybody was staring at her."
The Valentines for Sarah benefit is just one of a series of fund-raisers hosted by Bill Marsh Automotive Group for a family or individual in need. They have held about one a year for the past five or six years, each time throwing open their Garfield Road facility to the event.
"The Marshes are going to match whatever we raise, it's typical of what they do," added Smith.
The Kelley family of Kingsley has been the beneficiary of the community's generosity, thanks in part to a Bill Marsh fund-raiser two years ago.
Kevin and Melinda Kelley's son, Quinn, then 5, was severely injured in a car accident in March of 2004. He survived head and chest injuries but the family, who also has an older and a younger daughter, scrambled to be with him at a hospital in Grand Rapids. No income came in for weeks when Kevin took a medical leave of absence to help care for his son.
An aunt who worked at Bill Marsh helped organize a burger benefit there, the largest of a handful of fund-raisers that helped the family.
"What it really did for us was, number one, show us how many people cared," said Melinda Kelley. "All the people who took the time to come, it was astounding. It made up for lost income, so that took a whole lot of stress off."
Valentines for Sarah will be held on Friday, February 10, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Bill Marsh GM showroom, 1621 South Garfield Road. The public is welcome to bring baked goods for sale, participate in the silent auction or to purchase some of the treats, cards or T-shirts that will be on hand.