Hot Tubs Northwest, with locations in Burlington and Ferndale, Washington, has always been a drop-off center for Toys for Tots, which collects and distributes new toys for less fortunate children at Christmas. But during the recession, Hot Tubs Northwest owner Dan Hyatt says the local Toys for Tots chapter needed to find other ways to raise money. During that time, Hyatt went to a concert featuring Leroy Butler — and enjoyed the music so much he decided to host Butler for a Toys for Tots benefit concert.
Held at Eagle Haven Winery, which at the time was owned by Jim Bill Perkins, a longtime friend of Hyatt’s, the concert went off successfully for 10 years, growing to raise about $35,000 a night for Toys for Tots, “which was the biggest donation our local Toys for Tots got,” Hyatt says. When Perkins died and the winery ownership changed, the benefit concert stopped.
By October 2021, the Eagle Haven Winery was under the new ownership of Bughouse Operations. The Bughouse team had close ties to the original owner, asking “What would Jim Bill do?” whenever it makes changes to the business. This year, the benefit concert returned — with donations going to The Boys and Girls Clubs of Sedro-Woolley.
Held in August, the Winery hosted a fundraising night that included a live auction, raffle, family games and Butler’s performance. In the past, Hyatt organized and ran the whole event, but this time Hot Tubs Northwest was the main sponsor for the night. Hyatt enjoyed letting the winery team run all the operations.
Around 250 people attended and raised $25,000 for The Boys and Girls Clubs.
“We’re kind of starting over again, and [the new winery owners are] really good people,” Hyatt says. “So it turned out great. The [club] is super happy about it, and they want to do it again.”
