Yelm realtor launches fundraising event for three local causes

Wyatt Mendel sees a growing divide in his hometown of Yelm, and he wants to bridge the gap.

The local realtor has launched the Sip, Support and Celebrate Fundraiser as a first step. The mixer event — which includes a wide selection of food and drink — will be held July 11 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the RE/MAX Country courtyard in Yelm. Sponsors include RE/MAX Country and TwinStar Credit Union.

Tickets can be purchased online and start at a $100 donation. Every dollar raised from ticket sales goes directly to three causes: Yelm Dollars for Scholars, Yelm Community Schools Special Education and the Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Fund.

Each cause is of personal significance to Mendel. His nephew is part of the YCS Special Education program. As a graduate of Yelm High School in 2011, Mendel received a scholarship from Yelm Dollars for Scholars. Mendel is also helping to parent his fiancée’s 13-year-old son, a student in Yelm.

Mendel, a former Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Scholarship recipient, recently secured funding for the restoration of the Sgt. Justin Norton mural located on the Rainier train trestle. The mural was completed May 26 on Memorial Day.

In a conversation with the Nisqually Valley News in April, Mendel said he wanted to create an event where people could “let go of politics” and focus on the town’s most vulnerable.
“And with all these bonds failing, I feel like our weakest and most vulnerable students are being forgotten about, because they need this funding desperately,” Mendel said. “And I feel like we should judge ourselves upon our weakest and most vulnerable citizens. Are we leaving them that way or are we doing what we can to help them?”

Mendel knows how quickly life circumstances can change. While living and working in Florida, Mendel experienced a severe car accident that left him with multiple disabilities, including intractable tremors and myoclonic jerks.

Intensive operations and months of rehabilitation followed the “life changing” accident.

Mendel said he still flies to Florida once a year for pain management surgery.

Upon his return to Yelm, Mendel saw his hometown as more politically divided than he remembered it. As he continued to recover, and eventually reentered the workforce, Mendel began thinking about how to address the issue. He started volunteering for different charities and foundations, like the Sgt. Justin Norton Memorial Fund. He observed other local efforts like the Cuffs-n-Trucks Golf Tournament organized by former Yelm police officer Bill DeVore.

Over time, the idea for Mendel’s own event, the Sip, Support and Celebrate Fundraiser, was born.

Mendel has already seen his vision of reaching “across the aisle with each other” take hold during the leadup to the event. He told the Nisqually Valley News that the “outpouring of support” from local businesses has significantly offset his projected costs, with DeVore, owner of the 507 Taproom and Filling Station, donating all beer and wine for the evening.

“I’ve also had the privilege of collaborating with several inspiring women-owned businesses in Yelm, who have gone above and beyond to support the fundraiser,” Mendel told the Nisqually Valley News. “Shelly (Brown), owner of The Masonry, has offered to donate anything we need for the event. Debbie Wilson, who owns Jerk Juicy BBQ and Yelm Floral, is contributing both food and beautiful floral arrangements. Cyndi (Doud) from the Shiplap Coffee Shop will provide her wildly popular donuts as a dessert highlight, and Tiffany Lin, owner of Red Lantern, is providing her beloved yellow curry, along with donating the rice and pot stickers, to round out the menu. Their generosity not only enhances the event but also showcases the strength and heart of our local business community.”

On June 6, Mendel posted a video on his Facebook page advertising the July 11 event. In the video, professionally produced by HRW Media, Mendel mentions silent auction items available for purchase, like a ride along with Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders and a Seattle Mariners tailgating kit.

“Here in the small town of Yelm, we take care of our own,” Mendel says in the video. “And when our neighbors need support, we come together as a community.”

Mendel hopes his efforts will inspire other brokerages to get involved with fundraising and philanthropy. He believes his current position as a realtor allows him the opportunity to give back in other ways, too, like donating a percentage of his commissions to select charities.

“And I’d rather see people do that voluntarily (who) want to give their money, rather than be forcibly taxed, especially if they could, of course,” Mendel said.

To learn more about the July 11 event and purchase tickets, visit

https://sipsupportandcelebrate.my.canva.site.

You can also email Wyatt Mendel at wyattfromremax@gmail.com.