Swansong Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) From: http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.ph..._toys_for_tots/ Whidbey Sailor earns $2,500 for Toys for Tots MC2 Tucker Yates Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Erika Wolfe, Navy Operational Support Center Whidbey Island, sits next to her screensaver of Gerard Butler. Wolfe was recently responsible for the donation of $2,500 to Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots due to the eBay auction of GerryUSA, a doll of Butler's character Andre Marek from the 2003 movie Timeline, Dec. 22, 2007. The doll made a year-and-a-half journey to 31 states around the U.S. and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada eventually meeting Butler himself in support of the cause. By MC2 Tucker Yates Fleet PACEN NW Friday, February 22, 2008 A Whidbey Sailor will be awarded for her efforts to raise money for the Toys for Tots campaign with a plaque and a March trip to visit actor Gerard Butler, of "300" fame, in Los Angeles. Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Erika Wolfe of Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Whidbey Island and a member of gerardbutlergals.com auctioned a figurine of Butler's character from the 2003 movie "Timeline," which was sold on eBay Dec. 22 for $2,500. Wolfe's history with Toys for Tots began in 1995 when they gave her toys for her child. She has since helped them every year. "It doesn't matter if it's sorting toys in the warehouse, going out and buying toys to donate; it doesn't matter," said Wolfe. "A lot of people from our fan club were doing fundraisers for various causes and I thought I could do something like that," said Wolfe. "I took the doll and I thought it would be really cool to send the doll to other fans and try to hit all 50 states. I auctioned off the doll and all the souvenirs For her efforts Wolfe received a Commander's Award from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots and will be going to CUT! 2008 film festival with VIP tickets to meet Butler and give him his Commander's Award personally. "It's for a good cause. I bought the doll and pitched it to the girls on the Web site and everybody wanted to volunteer. We had a schedule of dates when he would be where and if somebody had something important coming up and they would post it on the Web site, if they wanted him for that timeframe." Everywhere the doll went, it had journal in which people would write from the perspective of the doll about his adventures. The doll was unable to travel to the whole U.S. due to some hang-ups and near misses with intended caretakers, but still made it to 31 states and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It met with Tony Curran, who co-starred with Butler in the 2005 movie "Beowulf & Grendel" when visiting California. "That was really cool because it was the first brush with something that might spark interest when we auction the doll," said Wolfe. "During this whole time, I was trying to think of a way we can get the doll and the actor together, which seemed to me like a monumental feat." Wolfe paid for a subscription to IMDb.com to attempt to find someone who could get in contact with him while he was filming "P.S. I Love You" in New York. After following a phone trail, she got in touch with his personal assistant on the set, Dallas Alexis. They planned on getting the doll to him in New York, so Butler could take a picture with it, but the plan fell through due to the filming becoming too busy and he left New York. Shortly after "300" came out, Wolfe realized Butler would be extremely busy and allowed the publicity to die down. She decided to give it one last shot shortly before "P.S. I Love You" was being released. She got a hold of the secretary to his publicist. "I told her about the fundraiser and I asked if I sent information would she look into this," said Wolfe. "She said yes, so I sent her the information in which she replied with an email back saying "send the doll and we'll get them together." "What she did was really great and he mentioned the doll during his 'P.S. I Love You' interview," said Wolfe. "It meant enough to him that he would mention it to the L.A. Times, which I thought was really cool." Butler signed the doll's pants while with him and his publicist wrote in the journal how little Gerry got to meet big Gerry. Wolfe also sent Butler a scrapbook of pictures so he could see what the doll had been through. The $2,500 went through to Toys for Tots Jan. 25 due to a hold period. It was a pleasant surprise for Wolfe because she got into the auction hoping to break $500. "This was phenomenal because the doll sold for $2,500," said Wolfe. "The reason it sold for so much is his popularity. I think the doll actually getting to him had a lot to do with it selling so much." All the pictures taken during the doll's travels, his clothes, postcards, ash from Mt. Saint Helens, his journal and a scrapbook were all sent to the winning bidder. His travels included Disneyland, Wrigley Field, the home of Robert Frost, but it all began with Wolfe sending GerryUSA up in an EA-6B Prowler with Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131. For more information on how you can make a difference to the Toys for Tots campaign, visit their Web site at http://www.toysfortots.org/{{PERIOD}} MODS, please feel free to move this topic to the correct forum. ********** Edited February 22, 2008 by becozy why, certainly, Swan ;^) now in News. Thanks, too, Madamina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becozy Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Thanks, Swannie, and Madamina who also sent a heads-up on this! Congrats Bella! I'm moving this to 'news'! Hugs. Barb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
touchmetrustme Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Thanks, Swannie and Madamina. This article was the first thing I saw when I got online this morning and WOWEEE, it sure did get me excited! Great article, and I'm so happy to see Erika get the accolades she so deserves! Hugs, Libby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discoveringme Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Fabulous article! Many :thankyou: for posting it here. An especially big congratulations to you, Bella, for all of your hard work on this project. You did a fantastic job. It was great to see Gerry USA go to such loving arms as well, Susan. Well done everyone! :clap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty W Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Thanks for sharing the article! Bella!! I know how hard you worked and how much time you put in to get that doll to Gerry as well as getting Gerry USA everywhere it could possibly get to and I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!! Well done and it was SUCH a great idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyjoanie Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Yay Bella!! :dance: Congratulations! If you ever need to pass another Gerry doll around, don't forget I'm in New York and can take a picture of him in front of the Empire State Building or something. Great work! Hugs, Joanie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pilar Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Yay Bells!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zanyzombie Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 CONGRATULATIONS!!! BELLA!!! :yippee: :goodjob2: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donnie Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Thank you for posting the article! It is a very nice story, and it was very interesting to read it (I noticed a remark of the doll before, but I didn't know the whole history of it). Next time, "little Gerry" could travel to other continents, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swansong Posted February 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Given the criticisms sometimes attached with the Gerry action figures and those who collect them, this acknowledgement for Bella's hard work and dedication is truly wonderful. Congratulations Bella! Swannie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IslandGirl Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 This is awesome Bella. And a cause close to my heart. I am involved with our Toys for Tots Xmas campaign at our work and have been fundraising for it for years. Great story!! Wonderful outcome!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Elissa Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 This is wonderful news! Congratulations, Bella! :cheer2: It was great fun hosting Gerry USA here in San Antonio. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DLSPBS Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 CONGRATS ON A JOB WELL DONE !!! DLSPBS - PAT P.S. SENDING ALONG A " CHICAGO ROSE " TO SUSAN FOR GB - USA !!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iliessa Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 WOO HOO BELLA! This was a fantastic idea that you had and an absolutely fabulous job of coordinating everything that transpired for "little Gerry". You rock lady! A great and well deserved article! Bravissma!!! *jumps to feet to give standing ovation in wild clapping pride and joy* :clap: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 once again Bella...you so deserve it! You do us all so proud! :goodjob2: Thank you so much for posting this! hugs, Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny85 Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 AMAZING work Bella!!! This article is wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isabeau Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Congrats, Bella! And , too, AimeeMarie, for all of your hard work on the project!! Issy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellawolfe Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) My only regret with this article, aside from the fact that I could have written it better -IMOH, is that Aimee & Susan weren't named. I talked with him for a good hour! So I made sure that he definately got gerardbutlergals.com listed correctly! I mentioned all the sites that contributed, and oddly enough only GALS was mentioned -but do we mind??? I wish they could have listed everyone by name!! He did list some sights out of the many I named, and Aimee's Mt. Saint Helen's ash! Bravo to Susan for her winning bid!! Bravo for giving CUT! 2008 a plug! Bravo to Gerry!! Bells ETA: I'll have a papercopy for you Susan!! I'm still waiting for it to arrive to see if he used more of the photos and if I made front page! Edited February 22, 2008 by bellawolfe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan~Sporran Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 FABULOUS article, Bella and you deserve every one of those accolades too!! I can't wait to see you present Gerry with his Commander's Award at CUT! and maybe we'll get another photo of him with the little guy. :goodjob2: I'm going to make sure that Aimee sees this article so it can be added to GerryUSA's myspace page. Big hugs - for all the work and effort you put into the cause. It is hard to believe just how many fun and amazing things came with GerryUSA. Those who come to the Vegas convention this year will get to see it because I intend to bring not only GerryUSA but his entire trousseau with me. He needs more than a full-size suitcase to carry it all! I'm also working on some ideas that will allow GerryUSA to continue his good works for charity. He was born into charity and he needs to keep living a charitable life!! And the next time I make it "over the pond" he will be with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nance Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 congratulations on the accolades... it's a wonderful story well deserved!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotlips70 Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Fantastic, well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeslieDcup Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Way to go, Bella!! Great article, despite all the stuff the reporter left out! And now you'll get to see THE Gerry in LA!! :dance: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heISmyGspot Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Bella and Aimee, thank you for allowing us to take this journey with you! It was definitely fun while it lasted! Here's to giving credit where credit is due! Missus Sporran, I definitely look forward to G'USA's continuing Gerrity drives! Now, Bells, chin up! Shoulders back! Tets out! Go to CUT and make us (mandolling) GALS proud!!! Hol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellawolfe Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 (edited) It would be perfection if Aimee could attend with me, but alas she has already paid for Vegas, which I had to give up in order to attend Cut. Thank you for all the well wishes, and don't worry Hol -mandolls annonymous will soon be Mandolls USA! Edited February 22, 2008 by bellawolfe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekkiegoober Posted February 22, 2008 Report Share Posted February 22, 2008 Bella!!!! It was so much fun for me reading about the "Adventures" of Marek. Along with the great pictures. Thank you for all your hard work, and to all the GALS who helped sponser him. Congratulations!!! Debbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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