Phil speaks, come listen

A local foundation is planning a true celebrity fundraiser.

The foundation, Swift Eagle, will host “A Night with Phil Jackson” on Friday, Sept. 9 at 4 Eagle Ranch north of Wolcott. Jackson will speak following a silent auction and dinner. The event will raise money for Swift Eagle, an organization started by a group of longtime local citizens concerned about people who fall between the cracks in the valley.

Jackson is a lifelong friend of Vail local Dave Haakenson, one of the founders of the Swift Eagle Foundation. The two grew up together in Williston, N.D., where they played on a state championship basketball team.

---

---

Coincidentally, Jackson was given the name Swift Eagle by the Lakota Indians of South Dakota in the 1970s. Intrigued by Haakenson’s dream, he agreed to be honorary chairman of the organization and speak at the Sept. 9 event. His speech will focus on his Lakota naming ceremony and emphasize the lifelong responsibilities and possibilities that come with his name.Tickets for the event are $100 and are available at Paddy’s Restaurant in Eagle-Vail. To learn more about sponsorships, call Haakenson or Pat Hamilton at 926-3846. Donations can be sent to Swift Eagle Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 1977, Avon, 81620. More information is available at http://www.swifteagle.org.

Vail, Colorado