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3Cs Boat Cruise and Hagadone Garden Tour Charity Event a big success

JACK DEWITT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 1 week AGO
by JACK DEWITT
Staff Writer | July 24, 2026 1:09 AM

Three hundred and fifty people stepped off the Coeur d’Alene and the Mish-An-Nock cruise boats and onto the Hagadone Estate’s dock on Thursday afternoon, taking part in the 3Cs Boat Cruise and Hagadone Garden Tour Charity Event.

Boarding from Independence Point, attendees had a rare opportunity to see the estate's green grass, lush forests and carefully placed flowers. 

For Dana Sorenson, the elation had been building the entire boat ride.  

“I feel excited, it’ll be nice to see something that's been around so long,” she said during the cruise to the estate. 

The estate is over 500 acres and features thousands of plant species from around the world, tended by a team of botanists and groundskeepers.

Victoria McCarthy called the grounds, “heaven on earth.” 

The sunny yet breezy evening was highlighted with dinner, live music and cocktails. People walked the gardens, chatted in the shade and shared a laugh. 

Janice Dickinson was impressed by the grounds but loved the party's fashion and ambiance. 

“Everyone is dressed for a summer garden party. It’s delightful!” she said.  

Pamilla Tarvin was shocked when the boat arrived, and she could finally see the estate. 

“I was astonished by the grandeur of the whole complex,” she said. “They built such a beautiful structure.” 

The 3Cs is a local charitable organization of over 500 women committed to raising funds for local Kootenai County charities. Before the event, 3Cs had raised and given away more than $2.8 million to local causes over its existence. 

Now, with the proceeds from the garden tour event, the group has raised over $3 million, a milestone that 3Cs board member Laura Chambers says is an “extraordinary feeling.” 

“I just look at the sum, and I think about how hard we have all worked and the community has worked to allow us to achieve that,” she said. 

Chambers said the 3Cs aren’t stopping anytime soon and that she knows how many more people they can help, given the growth they’ve been seeing.

To cap off the evening, in conjunction with the Hagadone Corporation and Hagadone Hospitality, the 3Cs auctioned off the chance to spend an evening on the late Duane Hagadone’s 60-foot sailing yacht, Sizzler. 

The auction package included an evening cocktail cruise, dinner for up to eight people at the waterfront Floating Green Restaurant and then a night sail back home. 

Two Sizzler cruise packages were auctioned, each for $8,000. Cruise package winner David Bartels was happy to support the 3Cs mission. 

“We’re excited for the event and happy to donate to the charities they support,” Bartels said.

Kerry Riccardi and Kathy Payne won the other cruise package.

For more information about the 3Cs, visit its website https://3cscda.com/.  

    Michelle René and Jessica Morales have a conversation while admiring the gardens.  
    Rose Backs and Todd Tondee auction off the Sizzler cruise package.
    Cindy Jordan, Kat Detroia and Maria Lowe smile while posing on the vast lawn of the Hagadone Estate.
 
 
    From left: Tom Voigtlaender, Brittany Green, Jolinda Naucke, Pat and Brenda Collet sit and chat along the rocks heading towards the beach of the estate.
 
 
  
    Robert Vaughn strums his guitar and sings to the guests at the event.
 
 
    Donna Mooney and Becky Riccardi smile as they relax beside a flower bed.
 
 
    Renee Loheed and Sonya Drayer walk down the estate driveway as they walk around the gardens.
 
 
    Event guests disembark the Coeur d'Alene cruise boat as they arrive at the Hagadone Estate.
 
 
    Diane Zell and Trena Tuppan explore one of the many walking paths across the Hagadone Estate.
 
 



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