PROGRESS-TO-DATE - Virgin/Santa Clara River Flood Relief, Inc. St George, UT

PROGRESS-TO-DATE

11.08.05
The Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief fund has received about $2.7 M in cash, pledges and building lots for homes since the January 11, 2005 flood. Money is not just coming into the fund; it is also going out of the fund. As of November 1st 60% of the equity loss of all 15 home owners has been distributed to the flood victims. The bulk of the money has gone to the victims who lost their homes to the raging waters, but some has gone to stabilize homes which were not destroyed.

A special anniversary program has been planned for January 11, 2005. Video is being added to the existing video with photos of the victims in their new residences. This video will
be shown at the Economic Summit at the Dixie Center during the day and that evening
at our anniversary program.

This special program will be held at the Cox Auditorium with Dixie College providing the Auditorium at no charge. Paul Bell is the event coordinator for this event. Margo Watson of Salt Lake City will provide the musical entertainment. Watson is a performer who has appeared with numerous orchestras including the Utah Symphony. She has starred in many stage roles such as: De Fledermaus, The Secret Garden, Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, The King & I, May Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and many more.

L'Deane Trueblood and Annette Everett have been asked to produce a preliminary bronze model of the permanent heroic bronze that will be commissioned to grace the City's water way, memorializing the floods of 2005. Mark your calendars for January 11th, 2006 for
this special program.

6.20.05
Letter to the community:

On January 11, 2005, our family watched as the Santa Clara River washed away our about-to-be-completed brand new home and the acreage it stood on. The image of that scene will be forever etched in our minds, and the anguish of that day will forever remain in our hearts.

Recently, we received a check for the community via Santa Clara/Virgin River Flood Relief Fund. We would like to use this means of thanking all of you in any way contributed to this fund. The anguish of that day has been greatly diminished by the thoughtfulness and generosity of the people who made donations to this fund. In addition, may groups and individuals have helped flood victims outside of the Food Relief Fund umbrella. We take this opportunity to thank you also. Our faith in the "good of people" has been renewed and we have witnessed it first-hand.

The book entitled - Portraits of Loss, Stories of Hope, was quickly put together following the flood, and documents the flood and helped raise funds for victims. Lyman Hafen, who wrote the introduction, sums up our feelings when he wrote: "The flood washed countless tons of silt, debris and precious personal belongings down the river, but in the process it uncovered the true gems of this community (and entire State of Utah). The people, the individuals, whether they be old-timers or new-comers, young or old, who make this one of the best places in live the the world."

Sincerely,

Clayton & Mary Cook and sons; Dillon, Devin & Koby.

5.13.05
Friday, May 13th was not an unlucky day for Charlotte and James Pace. On this day the Pace's received a community gift to help compensate for the loss of their home swept away for the January 11th flood. Photo shows David Watson, Chairman of the Virgin River/Santa Clara River Flood Relief, Inc presenting her with a check.

Charlotte: "The generosity and support of this community is absolutely awesome! Words are not adequate to express the depth of my gratitude for the help we have received. No one was obligated to do anything for any of us who lost our homes in this flood–yet from the very beginning, the entire community has rallied to help–from the backbreaking chores of filling and strategically stacking sandbags to feeding, clothing, sharing shelter and comfort–to the huge effort of documenting the flood and raising money for those of us who lost so much.

Receiving this check means a great deal more to me than the money can buy. It is a manifestation of unselfish love of my fellow man. It is a reminder that no matter what tragedy we face, life is good and together we can prevail.

My personal commitment is to “pay it forward” by renewing my efforts to give to the fullest extent that my talents allow to make my community a better place. It is my privilege to represent an organization called “Court Appointed Special Advocates.” We are a volunteer organization that helps neglected and abused children who are in the court system through no fault of their own. It provides a wonderful opportunity for those who want to make the world a better place–one child at a time. I invite any other community members who are interested in doing this to contact me at 986-5725.

I so deeply and sincerely thank the members of this community who have given so much time, effort, and money to help flood victims." READ HER FLOOD STORY
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5.1.05
The trustees approved and paid out $145,700 for bank stabilization for those homes which were undercut by the raging waters. Bank stabilization for these homes was needed in order to obtain occupancy permits for these homeowners.

Loans Forgiven:
Wells Fargo Bank - Jack & Lois Worlton READ THEIR FLOOD STORY

Zions Bank - Pete & Mary Shroyer READ THEIR FLOOD STORY

Pete Shroyer, seated left, and Zions Bank representatives, standing from left, David Turner, Connie Stewart and Douglas Balch look on as David Clark, far right, helps Mary Shroyer stamp her home loan documents with a "PAID" mark Wednesday afternoon at the former location of the Shroyer home on Santa Clara Drive. The Shroyer family lost their home Jan. 11 to flood waters. READ ENTIRE STORY.....
Photo by Jerel Harris / The Spectrum (5.4.05)