CLEARLAKE OAKS — A fundraiser for the establishment of the inaugural Frank Toney Memorial Scholarship fund will be held April 9 at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, located at the junction of highways 20 and 53. Proceeds from the steak dinner and auction event will help fund two $500 scholarships to be awarded to eligible Lower Lake High School (LLHS) students in good standing.
Toney, who was awarded the Stars of Lake County “Local Hero” award posthumously in March, was known as a faithful contributor to the community. The 1983 graduate of LLHS served his community as a little league coach, government board director, CalTrans employee, emergency medical provider, fearless firefighter and was a brave hero to many. He died unexpectedly in May 2010.
“Frankie was a special person to so many people,” his mother, Sue Burton, said. “Being able to give back to the community in his name will keep his memory alive so that his son Parker will grow up knowing just how important his father was to Lake County and especially the community of Clearlake Oaks.”
Toney”s brother, Duane Toney, said after his brother died he and his wife Leticia wanted to find a way to memorialize Frank”s commitment to the community in a beneficial way that he would be proud of. “Because Frank was all about his community, we thought that a scholarship in his name would be appropriate,” Duane Toney said.
Duane said a committee was formed consisting of family members and longtime, childhood friends of his brother. Committee members include Leticia Toney, Frank”s father Jim Burton; Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener; Northshore fire”s Keith Leffler; Lakeport fire”s Danny Copas; and Mike Huber of Cool Heating & Air.
“Frank loved his community and we want him to be remembered for all the things he did to make his community a better place to live,” Diener said.
Duane said the committee met and decided that holding a steak dinner would be just Frank”s style. “While working at California Department of Forestry (CDF) Station 40 in the Oaks, it was common for Frank to cook for the guys at CDF; most notably was his desire to cook a good steak dinner for his crew. I guess it was Frankie”s trademark on shift.”
Duane continued, “The guys that worked on the same shift as Frank always knew that Frank would cook up something good. They were always happy to let Frank cook. So, with that in mind, we found it fitting to do what Frank would do ? a big steak dinner with all the fixings.”
Duane said proceeds with go toward funding two $500 scholarships for two LLHS seniors. He said in the event that more money is raised than expected, three, possibly four scholarships will be offered.
“Having an annual event in Frank”s name will not only be a way for us to honor him, but this will serve as an opportunity for Frank”s son Parker to see how important his dad was to this community,” Leticia Toney said. “Each year Parker gets older, he will understand more and more about what his dad meant to our family and this community.”
The steak dinner will be held April 9 at the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge and will include a silent auction, dessert auction and 50/50 raffle. No host cocktails begin at 4:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Duane said during the entire dinner, guests will have the opportunity to bid on extravagant cakes, pies and cookies made by local firefighters from districts in Lower Lake to Upper Lake. In addition, he said, many other dessert items will be provided by members of the Clearlake Oaks Women of the Moose.
A silent auction will coincide. “The Southshore and Northshore business communities have been very supportive of this event. When we would go out to ask for donations for the silent auction, they were really receptive,” Duane said. “Many that I spoke with would say they didn”t know Frank but had heard he was one great guy. Some would say they were happy to donate to such a noteworthy cause that will help students in this tough economy.”
The silent auction will open at 4:30 p.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
Duane said the big highlight of the evening will be a special raffle drawing for an Escort Tactical II 12 gauge pump shotgun. Raffle tickets will be priced as $20 apiece of six for $100. Special raffle tickets sales will be limited to 100. Duane said the shotgun will be on hand for those that want to view the shotgun before they buy their ticket.
Dinner tickets are available for purchase, at $15 apiece, at Northshore Fire district”s Lucerne Station, the Clearlake Oaks Moose Lodge, Leffler or Diener or by calling 350-7601.
“I have known Frank literally all my life. This is my way of honoring him,” Huber said. “Frank was very giving to others. We want him to be remembered for his generosity, his big heart and all of his random acts of kindness he exhibited every day to everyone.”
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockentein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
