In his three decades on WCCO radio, raising money for charity has become second nature for Dave Lee.
On Monday, the start of his final week on the air before retirement, that second nature paid off.
It came during one of the many scheduled “Who Can It Be” segments, surprise guest appearances arranged by long-time WCCO producer Jimmy Erickson.
Big time.
Natalie Bushaw of Logan Loves foundation, who goes way back with Dave and his Gutter Bowl event (more about that later), made the on-air presentation of a $50,000 gift to the WCCO/Dave Lee’s Patio at U-of-M Masonic Children's Hospital.
“I hope I don’t get teary saying it,” she said, making it through the announcement without a drop. “It’s because of you Dave, and your work.”
Dave was almost speechless.
Almost.
“My goodness, Natalie, that’s overwhelming,” he said.
Dave’s on-air work brought he and Natalie together nearly a decade ago.
It was during Dave’s Gutter Bowl fund-raiser that Logan Loves made its first-ever donation.
“We started our giving at the U-of-M, really, because of you,” said Natalie. “We pulled together $800, and we brought it to the Gutter Bowl.”
She still has her official 2012 Gutter Bowl shirt to prove it.
Directors of the foundation had been considering the large gift to the Patio project, and it all came together at the right time.
“The timing worked out well, I guess, in a way,” Natalie said. “Jimmy and your whole team at WCCO, they just care about these kids and the ways we can come together. It’s just really, really phenomenal.”
Logan Loves was created with the mission of bringing joy and healing to kids and families in the hospital.
The foundation is named for one of Natalie’s twin sons, who was born with a severe heart defect and spent much of his early years in and out of hospitals.
Logan is now 17 years old, and had two life-saving transplant operations.
