“‘Silverado Days 2014 Gone to the Dogs – Service Dogs’ was once again a resounding success for the Buena Park Noon Lions Club on behalf of the City of Buena Park,” said Buena Park Noon Lions Club President Laura Rodehaver. “All proceeds from the event will go back into our community in the form of ‘Silverado Days Grants’ during the Grants Luncheon in January 2015 (by invitation only – all Grant recipients will be contacted and receive a formal invitation).”
“‘Silverado Days 2014 Gone to the Dogs – Service Dogs’ was once again a resounding success for the Buena Park Noon Lions Club on behalf of the City of Buena Park,” said Buena Park Noon Lions Club President Laura Rodehaver. “All proceeds from the event will go back into our community in the form of ‘Silverado Days Grants’ during the Grants Luncheon in January 2015 (by invitation only – all Grant recipients will be contacted and receive a formal invitation).”
Rodehaver said all Grant applications are due no later than Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Forms are online at “Silverado Days Grant application.”
Silverado Days has generated more than $1 million in Grants awarded since Silverado Days 1972. The funds are given back to the community in grants for schools, city projects, parks and other service projects.
Rodehaver said the success of Silverado Days does not depend on any one individual.
“Under the direction of the Lions Club Board Members and the General Chairperson Patrick Donnelly, there are a number of committee chairpersons who are most instrumental in driving their areas of responsibility; also, the event could not be successful without the backing and presence of our Mayor, Councilmembers, Buena Park Police Department, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Lions Club Members,” she said.
Each year, the Lions Club, which administers Silverado Days, has an opportunity drawing, where a $2 ticket gives participants the opportunity to win a truck or car. This year, the drawing was for a 2014 Blue Granite Metallic Chevy Silverado Truck.
“Historically, the truck drawing has been the culmination of a fantastic weekend at Silverado Days,” said Truck Raffle Chair Joe Rodehaver. “At 9 p.m., Sunday evening, Miss Silverado draws the winning ticket from a large drum of ticket stubs that have been accumulating from months of pre-sales by organizations and schools in the area who use the venue as a fundraising opportunity for their groups,” Rodehaver explained.
“Also, Lions Club members sell tickets at all of the Summer Concerts in the Park and at Buena Park Downtown Mall for 12 consecutive weeks prior to the event, and the Lions Club Booth is always the center piece for brisk sales of opportunity tickets during Silverado Days,” he said.
“This year, at ‘Silverado Days 2014 Gone to the Dogs – Service Dogs,’ Silverado Sam, AKA Lion Don McCay, announced the winners on the Main Stage to a gigantic crowd that overflowed the Food Court arena,” Rodehaver said. “And this year, the Buena Park Noon Lions Club, went all out to give away a beautiful 2014 Chevy Silverado Truck with the outstanding sponsorship of Premier Chevrolet, 6195 Auto Center Dr., here in Buena Park.”
Rodehaver said the winners of the truck are Chris and Eun Choi who purchased the winning ticket from an organization known as the Young Leaders, thanks to Helen Yoon who was one of the very last groups to become involved as a fundraiser.
“The truck was presented to the Choi’s at Premier Chevrolet’s brand new dealership location on Wednesday morning, Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m.. Tune in to Buena Park Channel 3 to see the video of the presentation and read about it in the Buena Park Independent newspaper.”
“Silverado Days 2014 is in the books – the weather was great and the crowds were huge. It was a record year,” said Silverado Days General Chair Patrick “Pat” Donnelly. “All the trophies have been awarded, the bands have packed up, the booths are empty and quiet has settled over William Peak Park for another year,” he said.
Donnelly said that Silverado Days is arguably a rare jewel in the world of Community festivals.
“It’s sponsored by the City of Buena Park and Administered by the Buena Park Noon Lions Club. This all-volunteer approach allows the Lions to distribute the proceeds to City nonprofit groups through the Silverado Days Grants program.,” said Donnelly. “Likewise numerous non-profit groups within the City, fill their coffers by selling hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, BBQ, and the ever-popular funnel cakes to name a few items available in the food court,” he said.
Donnelly also said that other organizations such as the Rotary Club, Boys and Girls Club, senior citizens, Soroptimists, organize and stage some of the events, like the Men’s Legs Contest, Chili Cook-off, pie eating, hog calling, horseshoes, and International Arm Wrestling.
“The vintage car show displayed 350 of the finest cars in-and-around Orange County,” said Donnelly. “In the words of one vendor – ‘I go to festivals almost weekly and I have never seen a cleaner more organized venue. I’ll be back next year.’”
Serving as Miss Silverado 2014 is Danielle Vela, 19, who is attending Cal State Fullerton and Princess Gabriella Weissmann, 23, who is studying law.
In addition to the truck winners, Cecilia Martinez won the big-screen TV donated by Lion Joe Dibsy with Sunshine Check Cashing of Buena Park and Garden Grove. Marsha Gilroys won six tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm including six Mrs. Knott’s Famous Chicken Dinners; Erica Crittendem, thanks to “Chic-fil-A, won a year’s worth of chicken dinners; Robert Pachenco won six Sizzler’s Restaurant dinners.
