PROCLAMATION
Honoring Ocean Wave Quilters
30th Anniversary
WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg Quilt Show, begun in 1996, served as a fundraiser initially for the Soroptimist International Fort Bragg and the Soroptimists International of Noyo Sunrise; and WHEREAS, the show has featured quilts made by members of the Ocean Wave Quilters, as well as quilts from other quilters from around the country; and WHEREAS, every year, the show is entirely volunteer managed and staffed, requiring hundreds of hours of organizing, set-up, display, and break down, as well as the thousands of hours quilters spend creating their works of art; and WHEREAS, with no show held in 2014, the Soroptimists International Noyo Sunrise partnered with the Ocean Wave Quilters to shoulder responsibility for the show due to the declining membership of the Soroptimists International Fort Bragg. Profits were divided between the organizations for their respective community projects; and WHEREAS, except for 2014, the show has gone on, even through two years of COVID restrictions. In those two years, the show was moved outdoors, named “On the Fence” and the public was invited - at no admission fee - to view the colorful quilts displayed on the fence around the Veteran’s Memorial Building; and WHEREAS, in 2023, the Soroptimists International Noyo Sunrise turned responsibility for the show over to the Ocean Wave Quilters, who have staged the show ever since; and WHEREAS, The proceeds from the show fund the community projects of the Ocean Wave Quilters a 501(c)(3) that include:
Warm Welcome: We make a quilt to welcome every new baby in our North Coast communities. Our local pediatric offices distribute the quilts at the first newborn visit. “Touch” Quilts: We make quilts that have texture for facilities in our community that care for patients with dementia. Research has shown that these quilts help provide a peaceful state of mind.
Hospital Infusion Center Quilts and Chemo Port Pillows: We make quilts that the infusion patient can use to stay warm during their chemotherapy treatments, and we make “Chemo Port Pillows” to cushion seatbelts for patients who have an infusion port.
Dress-a-Girl-Around-the-World:: We make cotton dresses for this project which aims to make sure every girl in impoverished areas (including in the U.S.) has at least one new dress of her very own.
Pillowcases: We provide pillowcases to foster children and to local shelters who provide assistance to families during domestic crises. We are part of the National Million Pillowcase Challenge.
Pet Beds: With all of our scraps, we make pet beds for local animal rescue groups, pet stores, and charities.
Other Community Quilts: We make quilts for many other community organizations, including the Food Bank, Project Sanctuary, Mendocino Children’s Fund, Child Protective Services, and Parents and Friends who give our quilts to their clients. We also donate quilts to non-profit groups that raffle our quilts for their fund-raising projects; and WHEREAS, The Fort Bragg Quilt Show regularly draws over 350 guests during the 2-day show, with nearly half coming from outside the Fort Bragg/Mendocino zip codes, helping to fill our hotel rooms, restaurants and local businesses; and WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg Quilt Walk, held from Memorial Day through Independence Day, draws shoppers into local businesses, the library and the hospital to view the nearly 100 quilts hanging to help publicize the show.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jason Godeke, Mayor of the City of Fort Bragg, on behalf of the entire City Council, do hereby recognize and congratulate Ocean Wave Quilters on their 30th Anniversary Show on June 27 and 28th, and extend our deep appreciation for its ongoing contributions to the Fort Bragg community.
SIGNED this 22th day of June, 2026
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JASON GODEKE, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Diana Paoli, City Clerk
No. 26-2026