Donna Karvia served as Lewis County Clerk for years as a Democrat. This photograph was taken in 2006.
Donna Karvia of Chehalis talks with Yakuri Matsumoto, a tour guide from Inasa, Japan, in this photo taken at the Virgil R. Lee Community Building at Recreation Park in 2004.
Donna Karvia was recognized in 2012 for her 50 years of dedication to the community. Karvia was given the Live United Volunteer Award. She died at her home in Chehalis on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017.
A year after the death of a longtime community leader and volunteer, the local Soroptimist Club has planned two fundraising events that will benefit the Centralia College’s Donna Karvia Memorial Scholarship.
Karvia, former Lewis County Clerk, died on Jan. 16, 2017, surrounded by her family at home in Chehalis. She was 78.
“She did so much for the community that people don’t even realize,” Doris Wood-Brumsickle, with the club, said.
Karvia was named The Chronicle’s 2016 Person of the Year for her commitment to Lewis County through her volunteer efforts.
The area club already had a scholarship it had previously established following Karvia’s suggestion, so when she died, Wood-Brumsickle said it was a “no brainer” to turn it into a memorial scholarship for Karvia, who was a longtime Soroptimist herself.
Two fundraisers will be held at the same time in the Hub City on Feb. 15 to coincide with “Third Thursday in Centralia,” a time when various businesses stay open late and other activities are offered.
The events will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. that day at Dawn’s Delectables and the Rectangle Gallery. Both will feature the products of wineries and creameries as well as chocolates.
Wood-Brumsickle said the club’s scholarships are $500 each. If enough money is raised, multiple scholarships will be awarded.
“We decided we needed to have a focused event where everything goes directly to that scholarship fund because she was wonderful,” she said of Karvia. “She was a rock in this community.”
Participants will include Heymann Whinery, a winery from Tacoma, Black Sheep Creamery, Willapa Hills Creamery and Katie’s Candies and Moonstruck Chocolates.
Karvia holds a special place with the Soroptimist Club not only because she focused on the betterment of girls, women and education, but also because she helped keep the club alive.
In the past, membership dwindled down to five people, according to Wood-Brumsickle.
“Donna put her hand down and said very clearly ‘we are not going to fold,’” she said.
Now the club has more than 20 members.
Tickets for the event cost $25. They include a taste of either wine, cheese or chocolate. The events are only open to people 21 years of age and older.
They can be purchased from other club members or from Wood-Brumsickle by calling 360-736-1570.
Dawn’s Delectables is located at 204 N. Tower Ave. and the Rectangle Gallery is at 209 N. Tower Ave. Both are located in Centralia.
