When Anonymous in Athol learned that Press Christmas for All had raised $84,000 so far, he and his wife chuckled.

Then, they challenged.

Eight and four are the final two digits of a larger number they hold dear. And larger numbers are the name of the game as Press Christmas for All heads down the homestretch, trying to raise $170,000 so 6,737 Kootenai County men, women and children can have a merry little Christmas.

Someday we’ll be able to tell you why eight and four are symbolic. Someday we’ll be able to tell you who Anonymous in Athol is. But not today.

A in A gets so much pleasure from giving anonymously, we wouldn’t want to deprive him of that. Nor would Press Christmas for All likely reach its goal without his help. So A in A, a sportsman and community activist at heart, can spread joy and have fun at the same time.

The 2015 Anonymous in Athol Challenge, then, goes like this:

For every $20,000 beyond the $84,000 raised so far, Anonymous in Athol and his wife will donate $5,000. In other words, if the community can come up with another $60,000, A in A will pitch in $15,000. If the community donates an additional $80,000, Anonymous in Athol will give $20,000.

And that would blow away the $170,000 goal.

To accept the 2015 Anonymous in Athol Challenge, please send your tax-deductible donation to Press Christmas for All, 215 N. Second St., Coeur d’Alene, ID. 83814, or go to cdapress.com and donate by credit card. But please hurry. Just six more days ‘til Christmas for All!

Recent donors: Fred & Diane Hammack; Larry R Williams; Dave & Michelle Gant, In Loving Memory of Aimee Gant; Johnny and Christine Powell; Gramma & Opa; Susan Miller; Mike and Mary Friedrich; Bill & Val Wolfe; Rick & Joyce Barton; Paul, Joyce, & Brian Kratz-Klatt; Dorothy Clark; Phyllis Turk; David & Janis Fenton; Jack & Gail Thompson; Daniel Phillips; Herbert Severtson; Faith Franck; Paige Lewis; Darlene & Mark Nason; Stuart Denny; Gordon & Audrey Wurmnest; Sam Scaletta; Carol Root; Robert & Janett Gridley; Shirley Vance; F.E. & Monika Vancini; In memory of Ralph Madland; Dennis & Katherine Wilson; Ronald & Beverly Noble; Marylyn Cordell; Robert & Diane Martin; Geraldine Gibbs; Richard & Lyn Gerhard; Kenneth & Sherry Beno; Dick & Deb Christopherson; Dale & Sandy Bunch; Judith Ratcliff; James & Jeanne Whaley; John & Carolyn Willoughby; Kathryn Boss; John & Janice Sturges; Anonymous; Lois Featherstone & Family, In loving memory of David Featherstone; Chris & Vicki Miller; Dave & Claudia Landon, In memory of Jack Lackman; Paul & Ginny Westhafer; Dennis & Teresa Wolfe.