Featured Story
12.11.2020

Bokan Presents Donation to Bashaw Fund

The local Bokan automotive dealership group recently presented a check for $6,100 as a donation to the Jim Bashaw Fund for Cancer and Catastrophic Illness. The dealership raised the money in a fund-raising during October as Breast Cancer Awareness month by donating a portion of the proceeds of every vehicle sale that month to the Bashaw Fund.

This is the second year running that Bokan has generously supported the fund in this innovative way. This year’s donation topped the 2019 amount – an outstanding accomplishment in a year when COVID-19 has challenged the success of many events and fund-raisers.

“We are so incredibly thankful to Bokan for this donation,” said Blueprint Program Manager Denise Smith. “The need in the community this year is greater than ever before and so this comes at an especially important moment.”

Smith handles the administration of the Bashaw Fund applications and disbursements and said that being part of that process has been a powerful experience.

Dealership Owners Dan Bokan & Chris Grant were on hand to present the check along with Andrea Grant who works in HR and Special Operations. NMC’s Chief Nursing Officer Deanna Orfanidis, RN received the check alongside Smith in a socially-distanced photo opportunity.

The Bashaw Fund is named for Jim Bashaw, a beloved teacher, guidance counselor and longtime girls’ basketball coach at BFA St. Albans. After being diagnosed with brain cancer in February of 2000, he valiantly fought his illness until his death on August 16th of the same year. Jim’s life and death affected not only his family and friends, but the entire community. To honor Jim’s memory, a fund was established to provide financial assistance to residents of Franklin and Grand Isle Counties who are experiencing catastrophic illness from cancer or other causes.

So far year, the fund has provided assistance to 74 people in Franklin and Grand Isle counties, offering approximately $37,000 in aid.

If you would like to make a donation to the fund, click here for information about the fund and an online donation form.