Penticton’s Oktoberfest Society is raising a glass of cash to the tune of $30,000 in support of the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion.
According to Bill Kolter, co-founder and society executive member, the decision was made at a board meeting Monday to commit the funds from the this year’s event to what members deemed a worthy cause.
“The work at the hospital is a very important thing and we all end up in the hospital sooner or later,” said Kolter. “We especially got encouragement from David Kampe from Peters Bros Construction. He’s given so much to the city and especially the hospital and we decided to follow that and do as much for the hospital as we can.”
In the last two years Kampe has donated lump sum amounts totalling $5 million to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, which included $3 million for a permanent MRI facility.
Since the Oktoberfest began seven years ago, the society has donated between $40,000 and $50,000 to a variety of causes including Penticton and District Search and Rescue and the SS Sicamous restoration work.
The group began with a $10,000 loan from the City of Penticton which was repaid in two instead of the original four-year plan.
Each year $10,000 of the money raised is held back as seed funds.
Over 2,000 volunteers dedicate their time to helping the success of the project.
Current Oktoberfest president Barb Schneiderat was also one of the founders.
This year’s Oktoberfest is Oct. 21 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and tickets are now on sale.