CLEARLAKE – In less than one month the Mendo Mill Charity Challenge has brought in more than $168,000 from 626 donations and matching funds to benefit 112 local charities in Lake and Mendocino Counties.

“The program was successful beyond our wildest dreams,” said Mike Mayfield, president of Mendo Mill and Lumber, who conceived the idea in early July. “I am proud of the people of Lake and Mendocino Counties who went the extra mile in a difficult economy to help those less fortunate.”

Mayfield said the checks were sent to the individual charities the week of Aug. 10.

“Special thanks go to our partners, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Joe Mayfield and John Mayfield who partnered with Mendo Mill to raise the matching funds,” Mike Mayfield said, adding, “I am proud to live and do business in such giving communities.”

In early July Mayfield announced a suspension of Mendo Mill’s annual summer barbecue events and directed the money saved to help local charities.

At the time he said he got the idea from another local business leader, Realtor Dick Seltzer, who had made a similar charitable commitment earlier in the year.

“Even though the free barbecues had been a popular tradition at our four Mendo Mill stores for over 25 years, I was confident that shifting the funds to charity in these difficult times was the right thing to do”, Mayfield said, adding, “The public response has been overwhelmingly positive and gratifying.”

Looking to the future Mayfield said he is considering making the Mendo Mill Charity Challenge an annual event.

“It’s obvious that the goodwill runs broad and deep in our communities and I hope that we can help to mobilize that generosity for years to come,” he said.