Valley Christian High School

Goodbye to leader in caring for underprivileged kids

Tony Danhelka and his wife, Donna, left the St. Charles area last week to make a new home — and take advantage of the milder winters — in Fairfield Glade, Tenn.

Danhelka touched many lives in the Fox Valley as one of the co-founders, along with Champ Boutwell and Paul Johannaber, of the Riverwoods Christian Center summer camp along the Fox River in St. Charles Township.

Riverwoods was created in 1977 and has been a haven for young, underprivileged kids seeking to learn Christian values and gain life skills that will help them succeed in high school, college and beyond. Danhelka served as the CEO of the organization, which has expanded and changed dramatically in 35 years.

Jay Curtis, who started as a Riverwoods staff member in 1988 and is currently president and CEO of what is now called Fox Valley Christian Action, has benefited greatly from Danhelka’s leadership.

Thirteen years after Curtis was hired, Danhelka recommended the board appoint him executive director. Eight years later, he recommended Curtis as his successor as president and CEO.

“It has been an amazing 23-year journey with Tony,” Curtis said. “I have learned a tremendous amount about ministry and people, and I am very grateful to Tony.”

Danhelka will remain involved with Fox Valley Christian Action and visit what is now called Riverwoods Family Campus when he is in the area.

It’s a good time to thank him for his vision and commitment to an amazing program. What started as an 86-acre camping ministry has expanded into an outreach called Riverworks for various housing communities, while Riverwoods Family Campus continues to grow with an activities center and several new cottages for the kids.

Dial 911 on dangerous drivers:

It’s not that the Fourth of July weekend brings more drinking and driving than other holidays, but it does symbolize that the summer driving and vacation season is in high gear. So you’d like to see those around you driving sensibly.

With more ways for people to get distracted while driving — drinking, texting, eating, talking on the phone, watching video, listening to music through headphones — it did not surprise me that some readers have asked if 911 is the best option to call if they see someone behind the wheel driving erratically. Or should they have a certain phone number from each area police station logged in on their cellphones?

Women's basketball signs three for next season | The Daily of the ...

The Washington women’s basketball team will have at least three new additions next year, head coach Tia Jackson announced Wednesday.

Aminah Williams, Talia Walton and Jazmine Davis all signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Huskies in starting in the 2011–12 season.

“This has to be the most versatile and explosive class we’ve accounted for since the start of my tenure in 2007,” Jackson told Gohuskies.com. “We work hard every day to take steps forward as a program, and I cannot be happier about this signing class.”

Jackson was able to keep two of the top recruits in Washington from leaving the state.

Williams, a product of Kennedy High School in Burien, Wash., is the 21st-ranked wing on ESPN’s women’s basketball recruiting website. The 6-foot player also considered Arizona and San Diego State.

Jackson equated Williams’ game to former NBA star Scottie Pippen, saying she may be the best all-around player she has ever recruited.

Walton hails from Federal Way High School and, at 6-foot-2-inches, is the 32nd-ranked forward by ESPN.

Davis is the only recruit that comes outside the state of Washington. She attends Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., and is a 5-foot-8-inch point guard who Jackson said can handle the ball well and push the tempo of the game.

The commitment of Davis comes at a good time with the graduation of senior point guard Sarah Morton after this season.

The Huskies kick off the 2010–11 season Sunday with a home game against Portland State.

Reach reporter Josh Liebeskind at sports@dailyuw.com.

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