Calendar sales will benefit youth fishing tournament, Delmont community groups

During her childhood in Delmont, Amanda List was always active in the community.

She was a Girl Scout, president of the local Lions’ Leos Club, a youth group member and youth deacon at her church.

“I think community is really important and I’m trying to instill that in my children,” List said.

She learned it from her father, the late Thomas Washburn, and with her family and friends, printed a second annual run of calendars featuring a few of her father’s thousands of nature photos. And this year, they’re looking to expand their reach.

“We were able to raise a little over $1,400 last year for the Delmont Public Library, and so this year we’re hoping to expand that to include other community groups,” List said.

With that in mind, List, her mother and Washburn’s longtime friend, John Negich of Export, worked with former Delmont library director Denni Grassel to connect with volunteer and community groups in the borough. And in addition to Washburn’s photos of hawks, deer and butterflies, there also are photos of the people whose contributions help make a difference in small towns such as Delmont.

Proceeds from the calendar help fund an annual fishing tournament in Washburn’s memory, as well as a widening array of volunteer groups.

“An example would be sponsoring Meals on Wheels, who are featured in the calendar,” List said. “My daughter’s Girl Scout troop made cards last Thanksgiving, and we’re hoping to have enough proceeds to do something like buy those supplies for the troop next year.”

Calendars will be available for sale at the information booth at the Delmont Pilgrimage on Dec. 2-3.

“We see this not only becoming a yearly event for the fishing tournament, but the Washburns would love to expand it to support other organizations and give back to the community,” Negich said. “Tom would be very delighted to see that.”

List agreed.

“I think that we’re on a good path of keeping my dad’s memory alive and helping to instill his value in my kids,” she said.

“And hopefully other kids,” Negich added.