Sutton’s Class of 1974 hit a home run of sorts Thursday, Oct. 17, when class representatives Don Claus and Kevin Erickson presented a donation of $6,500 to Amy Schelkopf, the administrator of the Sutton Community Home, as well as to the Sutton Community Home Foundation.
In donating to help with the renovation and construction project and the future of the Sutton Community Home, the Class of 1974 also issued a challenge to other classes that have graduated from Sutton High School to join forces with their classmates and come together like the Class of 1974 did this summer following their 50th class reunion.
“We really hope that this will start other classes that have graduated from Sutton to put their resources together and take part in the effort that our class did to help bring this renovation and construction project to a reality,” Claus shared.
Erickson added, “We were talking after our reunion was over this past summer and collectively our class thought that it would be a nice way for all of us to lend a hand in helping the home and the foundation get closer to the goal of starting this project.”
Erickson added, “Don truly was the driving force behind all of this, taking the lead in contacting classmates and organizing the donation drive, so he really deserves much of the credit for making this all happen.”
The class, according to Claus, used it’s class Facebook page to organize this donation.
“I just got to thinking how generous our class is in regards to supporting the hometown community. After a talk with Kevin and classmate Glenn Bauer, the donation drive really took off from there and our class really stepped up to make it all happen,” Claus shared.
Tory Duncan, president of the Sutton Community Home Foundation noted that, “groups like the Class of 1974, along with other organizations that have donated and groups that may take on this challenge from the 1974 class is a great way to get everyone involved that has one way or another seen the positive impact that the Sutton Community Home brings to the area.”
Duncan added, “It really shows the pride that the Class of 1974 has in their hometown, by stepping up with a collective donation like this. We’d encourage all of the classes that have graduated from Sutton, and also other organizations in and around Sutton as well, to lend a hand with the effort to make progress on the renovation and construction of the community home. We are working to breathe new life into the 60-year-old nursing home building and ensure that Sutton’s longterm care facility continues to be a strong anchor in the Sutton Community, and for that matter, the areas around Sutton.”
Duncan added, that if any group, or organization would like to take on the challenge that the Class of 1974 has put
TORY DUNCAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
in place, they can contact any member of the Sutton Community Home Foundation, or the Sutton Community Home Board, as well as the leadership team at the Sutton Community Home.
“We’d love to help in any way that we can. If any student group, organization, or class that is currently enrolled at Sutton Public Schools would like to take on this challenge from the Class of 1974, they too are equally welcome to take on some ownership on this project and help aid with a fundraising project, or some form of donation as well,” Duncan finalized.
