Shirley Pearsall is the quintessential Altrusa member, devoted to bettering her community. But in her life, she has found many ways to give back. She and her husband Bob first moved to Olympia in 1959 as the first special education teachers in the North Thurston School District. In addition to their professional careers in public service, amongst other interests, they owned the ABC Window Company for 20 years (1963-1983) at the current Kitchen Design Center site. They were married for 55 years and he sadly passed in 2011. Bob played the drums in a local trio, ‘The Bobcats’ (each member named Bob) and they both volunteered (and she still does) with Altrusa International of Olympia.
You may know Altrusa as the people who sold elephant ears at Lakefair for many years, but Altrusa International is a philanthropic society with over 400 clubs and 11,000+ members worldwide. Altrusa is dedicated to “making a difference in your own backyard.” It was formed in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1917, simply because the founder and her friends were not allowed to join the established service clubs of the day - all clubs excluded women! The letters “altr” stood for altruism and “usa” for the United States of America, likely due to WWI patriotism, though it later became an international organization. Altrusa was organized in Olympia in 1966 and was chartered three years later. Shirley is the only charter member still active.
In 1977, Altrusa became the first national volunteer service group to adopt literacy as its primary focus. They have also supported myriads of other types of projects over the years, from the Oly-Yashiro Sister City to the Amtrak Railroad Depot.
They currently host a variety of projects locally: classroom grants for teachers; a kids’ reading corner at the food bank, ‘tots to teens’ (with free books); South Puget Sound Community College Scholarships; career awareness awards; and bellringing for the Salvation Army.
When I asked Shirley about her favorite project, she was quick to say, “The Sunshine House!” She was involved from the beginning.
In 1983, the Olympia Altrusa Club started to consider something big. They sought to pilot and lead a community drive to establish a hospitality house on the campus of Olympia’s Providence St. Peter Hospital.
They named it Sunshine House long before it was built. In 1984, the hospital administration took a chance with this small group of volunteers. The Altrusa Club partnered with the Providence St. Peter Foundation, donors, and others, finding success.
In 1985, the hospital remodeled the available space on the 3rd floor to create five guest rooms, a TV room, a kitchen, and an office, as a pilot. Shirley was the volunteer coordinator. Local merchants provided the furnishings and Altrusa provided the all-volunteer staff.
They worked hard and inspired other groups and individuals throughout Thurston County. In 1986, Booth Gardner gave the governor’s voluntary service award to ‘all Altrusa volunteers’ for their efforts on the Sunshine House Pilot Project. Also that year, the club won Altrusa’s Mamie L. Bass Service Award at the district level for the Sunshine House, and, in 1987, at the national level.
After a year of overwhelming popularity - and full beds - the hospital remodeled a space twice as big on the 11th floor, with ten guest rooms, to continue the pilot, phase 2 began.
The hospital also started planning for a stand-alone building. Community members Lynn Brunton and Sharon Seaman were drafted to help and raised more than $400,000 locally for construction. Construction began June 28, 1987, with the breaking-ground ceremony, and the doors opened in December that year. Shirley stayed on as a volunteer coordinator until the project moved to its own free-standing building.
The supporters never looked back and in 2000, they finished an addition. This project included the Providence St. Peter Foundation's Second Century Campaign led by volunteers Dr. Bill and Jacki Gavin with William Jacobs. They recruited hundreds of individuals, organizations, businesses, and foundations, reaching their goal of $1.4 million. The facility now has 24 rooms for up to 67 guests, four RV hookups, three kitchens, and the capacity for large families with children. Altrusa International of Olympia continues to support Sunshine House, as do other volunteers who help Providence staff make it a “home away from home” for their guests.
“The Sunshine House is a gift from the community to the community,” commented Shirley. And Altrusa is grateful to the Providence St. Peter Foundation, former PSPH administrator Dave Bjornson, local architect Mort James, and the many individuals and organizations who helped assure success with funding, volunteer work, and more. Thanks to many, it continues today to aid those coming to Olympia to receive health care.
You can find the Sunshine House at 413 Lilly Road, the grounds of St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, WA, phone number is 360-493-7900. It serves families and patients from out-of-town to stay comfortably with ready access to the hospital, and at a reasonable price.
Give it a special nod when you visit. 2023 is the 40th year since Altrusa launched the dream to create it in 1983. Happy birthday, Sunshine House!
Shirley Pearsall has no regrets. In fact, at her 50th high school reunion, she was the only student to raise her hand when asked if there was anyone who had no regrets. Adversity, yes. Regrets, no. She looks on the positive side and lives a life with meaning.
Shirley invites everyone to find meaningful ways to help their community and the Altrusa Club is one good way to do that –they welcome new members, and they want them to bring ideas for making a difference. For more information, visit the website of Altrusa International of Olympia, see the group on Facebook, or contact President Caprice Catalano at: cece596@hotmail.com
Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you’d like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.
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* A great article and a great organization! Thank you for bringing attention to what Altrusa is and the wonderful things it does. Marian Seeley was also an Altrusa member who had the best stories about selling elephant ears at Lake Fair, well into her 80s.
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Report this
psterry
This is a testament to the infinite power of volunteers getting behind a worthy cause. Bravo!
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Report this
chezeve
Thanks Shirley for the informative history behind Altrusa & the Sunshine House. I learned a few things about The Dunshine House that I hadn’t known before taking a tour of the facilities. It also provides housing at a nominal fee for residents living more than 10 miles away if they need to be near or in the hospital for a loved one. And learning about Altrusa & the years of community altruism by Mrs. Pearsal & peers was uplifting!
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Report this
Grandma
A great article on 2 great organizations! I never knew the origin of Sunshine House. To think one small philanthropy group was able to get the project moving and still thriving today says a lot about community. Altrusa, keep up the good work, especially your work in education!!
Saturday, December 16, 2023 Report this