Donor Profiles

The Treasure of an American Quilt

There are many wonderful items displayed each year at the FORE Not-So-Silent Auction during convention, but of all the unique items, probably the most special one is the hand made quilt by Katy Sheehy.

Each year, Katy creates and then donates a quilt that is displayed at the FORE Auction, but it’s only available to a select group of ladies… originally known as “The  Dames of Distinction,”  a group of 8 members of the AHIMA Board of Directors that struck up a friendship in the 1980’s and kept in touch all through the years, and one of them was Katy. 

When Beverly Dickerson, also from that group, found out that Katy had donated a quilt for the Not-So-Silent Auction in 2001, she decided the quilt was too special to bring in a bid price of a few hundred dollars.  Beverly thought it could probably bring in more money if she organized a group of ladies to combine their donations to support the FORE Scholarship Fund, and then give them a chance at the quilt.

Beverly’s idea generated over $850 the first year, when she called on her former board colleagues to donate at least $100 each toward the FORE scholarship fund.  The first person to send in $150 that year got the quilt!  Since then, the group has grown and now consists of more than just the former AHIMA board members – in fact now the “dames” include some gentlemen.  In 2007, the quilt brought in $3,200 in donations.  In fact, since the project began the group has donated more than $12,000 to FORE Scholarships. 

Each person that consistently donates each year as part of the group is placed on waiting list and eventually gets his or her turn to be the recipient of the quilt. Because the person who gets the quilt is usually known before the quilt is made, Katy Sheehy asks if they have a color or theme preference.  She begins the quilt in the spring and it’s usually completed by summer.

Katy says she has always sewn, but took up quilting only 8 years ago after she retired and moved to South Carolina. She donates quilts for two other non profit organizations and is willing to speak with anyone who thinks they may want to use quilting as a way to raise money.

Katy is a past President of AHIMA and also served as Chair of the FORE Board.  She served as State Association President in Michigan, and also served on the original Council on Professional Practice.

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