WARSAW — The Warsaw Rotary Club met to hold their annual “Rotary Salvation Army Day” and collected $60,260.53 to support the efforts of The Salvation Army in Kosciusko County. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the event, following the late N. Bruce Howe's establishment of the effort to honor Brigadier Brice Phillipson, a Rotarian and longtime Salvation Army officer.  

The event collected just over $800, which would have the buying power of $8,228 today. 

 The celebration has continued over six decades, with John Hall serving as co-chair and now Alan Alderfer and Envoy Ken Locke as current chairs.  

Club President, Ben Rice, thanked everyone who attended the meeting and for the donations given to this worthy cause.  

The club participated in their 98th Annual “Rotary Toy Day” earlier in the month collecting $773.70 worth of gifts to support Angel Tree and Veterans Christmas outreach.  

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WARSAW — Alderfer Bergen & Co. has merged with Beacon Pointe Advisors.

The change was announced on Tuesday.

The change means the end of the business name, Alderfer Bergen, but it also opens up more opportunities, says Mike Bergen, who has owned and operated the financial planning company with Alan Alderfer for 20 years.

Bergen said the change will be a good one.

"It's very good news. We are extremely happy. Alan and I have been expending more and more time on administrative things as our business has grown. We started looking for a partner to offload some of that administrative stuff," Bergen said.

The Warsaw company looked at various options before making a decision.

"We were thrilled to find Beacon Pointe because their investment philosophy and their values line up with ours," Bergen said.

The merger was one of three changes announced simultaneously by Beacon Point.

Others include Moser Wealth Advisors in Bellevue, Wash., and Amore Ambro, LLC. in Jericho, NY.

The move is expected to strengthen Beacon Pointe’s nationwide presence.

The new parent company has about 75 offices across the country and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

Most of the local customers have already been moved over, and Bergen said that no local personnel changes are expected.

Known for their specialization in serving the orthopedic industry, the Warsaw-based firm has offered comprehensive services including retirement planning, investment management, tax and estate planning, and much more.

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WARSAW — At their recent investment advisory committee meeting, Kosciusko County Community Foundation presented Alderfer Bergen & Company with the Philanthropic Partner Award.

Stephanie Overbey, CEO of the Community Foundation, said, “Their leadership is actively engaged in community service including membership on a variety of nonprofit boards and committees. The firm has had a representative on the Community Foundation’s finance and investment committee nearly every year since 2003.”

Overbey said the firm’s founders, Alan Alderfer and Michael Bergen, established the Kosciusko County Riley Fund and they have spearheaded fundraising for this endowment that helps local families with their travel expenses to and from Riley along with helping fund programs at Riley Children’s Hospital that are not covered by insurance.

To date, the fund has raised over $1.3 million and has issued over 3,600 grants for assistance to Kosciusko County families who have a child being treated at Riley Children’s Hospital, according to a news release from the Community Foundation.

“We applaud them for the numerous ways in which they have served the Community Foundation, how they have enabled many clients to accomplish their personal and charitable financial goals, and how they have helped seriously ill children receive the care they need,” said Overbey.

Alderfer Bergen & Company was founded in 1999. Today, the firm employs a team of 10, including four investment advisors with a collective 100 years of investment experience. The firm’s core values are leadership, client focus, integrity, teamwork and excellence, the release said.

Kosciusko County Community Foundation Inc. is a public charity whose mission is to bring caring people and charitable endeavors together to inspire generosity and strengthen communities. The Community Foundation grants over $4 million annually in the areas of education, health, arts and culture, recreation, civic projects, environment and human services. Gifts made to the Community Foundation are tax-deductible.

For more information, visit www.KCFoundation.org, call 574-267-1901 or visit 102 E. Market St., Warsaw.

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WARSAW — Riley Radio Days wrapped up a two-day marathon Friday night and finished with more than $80,000 in contributions.

Sponsors, organizers, and those close to Riley Radio Days gathered in the Rita Price Showcase Studio at Kensington Digital Media offices in Warsaw shortly after 7 p.m. to celebrate this year's grand total of $80,179.41.

[caption id="attachment_90707" align="alignright" width="219"] Alan Alderfer said this year's total contributions represented a grand slam by local supporters of the Riley Kids Fund.[/caption]

Half the money goes to Riley Kids Fund for local support and the remaining portion goes to Riley Children's Foundation in Indianapolis.

In the past 12 years, the local fundraiser has collected $1.3 million.

This year marked 12 consecutive years of the fundraiser on 107.3 WRSW, led by Alan Alderfer, founder of the fundraiser whose daughter benefited from efforts at Riley Children's Hospital years ago.

The Riley Kids Fund provides gas cards and other financial assistance to families traveling to the hospital in Indianapolis.

Alderfer said he was unsure what to expect this year because of the financial strains families are continuing to feel.

"I was just hoping to hit $60,000 or $70,000 and when I heard that $80,000 number, I think that was an absolute grand slam," Alderfer said afterward.

"We don't set goals, we don't try to compete with last year, we just try to see what does the community want to raise for these families," Alderfer said.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="90702,90705"]

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WARSAW -- WRSW listeners and the corporate community delivered more than $83,000 for the KC Riley Kids Fund Friday night.

Founders of the KC Riley Kids Fund, Alan Alderfer and Mike Bergen, staffed the 26-hour radio event along with 107.3 WRSW personalities with efforts hitting a crescendo at 7 p.m. when the total of $83,179.25 in contributions was announced.

Employees with Explorer Van, Zimmer Biomet and Tecomet helped push the total to one of the strongest turnouts in the fundraiser's 12-year history.

Another $11,000 came from last year's Riley Radio Days Concert featuring Jefferson Starship in Central Park.

KC Riley Kids Fund provides gas cards and other financial assistance to families traveling to the hospital in Indianapolis and also includes contributions made directly to the hospital. 

The campaign relies on donations online and by phone and saw strong corporate support this year. 

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Riley Kids Fund Co-Founder Alan Alderfer tells News Now Warsaw what their mission is all about.

"You get a sick child and you have to travel the two and half hours down to Indianapolis. You have to pay for gas, you have to miss work, and next thing you know you have to decide...and we've heard this from local families...am I going to pay the utilities bill or am I going to take my child to Riley?"

The Riley Kids Fund will be accepting donations at the free 2017 Rockin' for Riley Concert in Warsaw's Central Park, presented by the city of Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department and 107.3 WRSW.

Alderfer says their presence at the show serves a bigger purpose than just raising money.

"We're out there to help raise money for the Fund, but one of the other big reasons that we're out there is to let people know this Riley Kid's Fund is there for them to be able to get help," he explains. "These families that are struggling to be able to take care of their sick child, Riley Kid's Fund is here for you, to let you know there is money and help available."

The Friday night concert starts at 6:30 p.m. with Fleetwood Mac Mania, who will be followed by Absolute Journey. WRSW morning show personality Kris Lake says the two groups are the official tribute bands and aren't just cover bands, but have received the endorsement from the real bands to tour and play their music.

They raised a little over $3,000 at last year's summer rock concert. Aldefer says they never make a goal going into a fundraising event because they accept whatever the community wants to help with.

"Whether its $10 that we make or $10,000, it's how the community wants to help this fund," he says.

Business partners Alan Alderfer and Mike Bergen started the Kosciusko County Riley Kids Fund in 2011 to help families with the expenses of taking their kids to Riley.

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