Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps hosts night of murder

Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps’ annual Murder Mystery Dinner and Auction fundraiser was held Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Vendome Events Center in Weiser.

 The event, dubbed “Murder at the Deadwood Saloon,” is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Arrow-Heart and was the first one held since the pandemic. It also featured a silent auction.

 “It turned out great,” said Arrow-Heart CEO, Steve Fenske. “We couldn’t do this the last two years and our finances were running low.”

 Fenske said that all funds benefit the nonprofit organization’s activities, which are designed to develop leadership skills, character building, and a sense of self-worth through exciting and challenging adventures for youth. The 10-month program focuses on the six “C’s,” which includes Character, Communication, Critical Thinking, Commitment, Courage, and Compassion.

 Arrow-Heart’s mission is to help young people garner inner strength and a positive direction in life through leadership and mentor training, and through serving others. 

 Close to 200 people participated in Saturday’s murder mystery fundraiser where individuals teamed up at separate tables and followed along with actors who played characters involved in a murder in the old west. Each table gathered clues and evidence proffered by the actors through their performances and were given a time frame in which to come up with a suspect. The table that came up with the correct identification of the murderer received a grab bag, which, in part, included gift cards and other assorted goodies.

 “This event is meant to raise funds but also to bring our organization to light for people who might not be aware of what we do,” Fenske said. “It’s a fun way to donate to a worthy cause and a lot of people look forward to participating.”

 On hand was actor Shawn Christian who has been part of the organization from the beginning when “Days of Our Lives” daytime soap star, Arianne Zucker, and her brother Todd Zucker founded it in 2007. Christian played Dr. Daniel Jonas on NBC’s Days of Our Lives and has produced and directed several independent films, winning Best Film and Best Actor for the 2015 Sci-Fi film “Spanners.” Christian will be appearing in future episodes of the television series “Magnum P.I.”

 He is also a life coach who is passionate about helping others unlock their potential and to find purpose in their lives.

 “I once felt as though I wasn’t worthy. There was a time when I didn’t have enthusiasm for my life; I didn’t believe there was meaning in my life; I couldn’t provide for my family; I couldn’t pull it together. I knew I had to create something different,” he said. “That’s why Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps is here, to show each and every one of you that you have the ability to create something different. You are not a victim of your circumstances. You have the capacity to rise above.”

 Fenske said he could not have pulled off Saturday’s event without his many volunteers and community members who made it all happen. 

 For more information on Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps, please visit www.arrowheartadventurecamps.org or their Facebook page at Arrow-Heart Family.