Wine-Tasting and Silent Auction to Benefit Shawna Morrison Memorial Fund
September 7, 2005
Champaign - Radio Maria will host a wine-tasting and silent auction to benefit the Shawna Morrison Memorial Fund on Monday, September 12th from 7 to 9pm, at the restaurant, located at 119 N. Walnut in Champaign . The restaurant will present 9 wines for tasting and an opportunity to bid on selected items from local artwork, fine food and wine, and many other gift packages and items. Music will be provided by DJ LA Wells and DJ Elise.
Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Radio Maria at 398-7729.
100% of the proceeds from this event will go to the Shawna Morrison Memorial, dedicated to creating a scholarship for a student who might be considering military service as an option for funding their continuing education. If you would like to donate something for the auction, please contact Pam Crews at slam@shout.net or Leslie Bettridge at elf6485@hotmail.com, or call Radio Maria at 398-7729 and leave a message for either of them stating what you'd like to donate and whether you want us to pick it up or you would like to drop it off.
Shawna Morrison was a longtime employee of Radio Maria and other local businesses. She was a member of the 1544th National Guard Transportation Unit based in Paris, IL. On September 5th, 2004, Shawna was killed when her barracks was attacked by mortar fire. She was the first Illinois woman to die in the current Iraq action, and was U.S. casualty number 983 according to the count kept by The New York Times based upon the Defense Department's release of information. Radio Maria created this memorial fund in response to Shawna's death. To date, they have raised almost $5000 and want to raise enough money to offer a high school student a full scholarship. The restaurtant hopes to eventually be able to endow the scholarship for the long term.