Branson/Tri-Lakes News: Butterflies alight on Branson to raise nonprofit funds

The faith-based Branson food pantry – located on the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church campus at 202-B Vaughn Road – is seeking to raise $65,000 to finance a permanent home, CAM officials say.

During the campaign’s first phase, 50 area businesses, organizations and individuals have sponsored 65 3-D butterfly sculptures to publicly display around Branson, said Joan Westfall, CAM’s executive director.

The Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure in Branson is the $30,000 presenting sponsor. The five sponsorship levels started at $750, and the top business sponsors include Golden Corral, River Bend Place, Skaggs Community Health Center, Hometown Radio and The Vacation Channel.

Artist’s touch

CAM has selected 50 artists to decorate the unpainted butterflies.

Walnut Shade artist Jan Harper said her employer, Skaggs Community Health Center, approached her about decorating one of the two butterflies sponsored by Skaggs. Katy Poulin, another Skaggs employee, is the other artist.

Harper chose Hearts Take Flight as her theme.

“That immediately popped into my mind based on what my passion is,” said Harper, Skaggs’ director of cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation. “I’ve taken care of heart patients in the area since 1970. It just rang a bell with me.”

The three-foot, Fiberglas butterflies were fabricated by Icon Poly in Odessa, Neb., and distributed to the artists during a Jan. 11 kickoff.

Once the butterflies are decorated, they will be unveiled at a ticketed brunch on March 29 at The Butterfly Palace. Westfall said the brunch launches Phase II of the fundraising campaign. Through Oct. 10, the public will be able to place bids at www.butterfliesatbranson.com to buy the sculptures.

Also, during the six-month bidding process, the sponsors will take temporary ownership of the sculptures to display them at their places of business, according to Al Waller, chair of the CAM board of directors.

He said maps will be available so that visitors can take a butterfly scavenger hunt that leads them to each of the businesses. “That’s how the butterflies benefit the businesses,” Westfall added.

The fundraiser culminates Oct. 10 with a Butterfly Ball and a live auction at the Chateau on the Lake at Branson. Westfall said 20 to 30 of the butterflies from the online bidding also will be up for bid at the ticketed event.

She said tickets will cost $25 for the March brunch and $75 for the October ball. Tickets for both events will be available online and at the CAM office beginning in February.

About CAM

More than 20,000 food items are distributed by CAM each month. During 2007, CAM assisted 4,702 families, representing 12,744 individuals.

Westfall said a new facility would alleviate the overcrowding CAM is experiencing and allow the organization to expand its services.

Although a site has not be selected, and plans are not drawn up, Westfall said, “We know what we want – an office, the pantry, a commercial kitchen and a community room. We want to have our resale shop again. We want to expand our career closet for men and women who want to get back into the work force.”

Westfall said fundraising events similar to this year’s campaign are scheduled through 2012.[[In-content Ad]]