OAKHURST — For the month of April, Helping One Woman (HOW) is honoring Carolyn Saulnier-Cowdrey with a unique community dinner. This event aims to offer strength and financial assistance during Carolyn and her family’s challenging time.

A Glimpse of Carolyn’s Story

Join the community in supporting Carolyn and her family at this special event. (Click to Enlarge)

Carolyn moved from San Diego to the mountain community in March 2020. She met her husband, Jordan, in September 2022 and immediately bonded with his children. Carolyn enjoys art, theatre, and Harry Potter, and coaches her two stepdaughters’ soccer team.

Jordan proposed to Carolyn in April 2023, and she accepted. In June, Carolyn became pregnant with their daughter, Athena Jo, born in February of 2024. Her siblings Brier (16), Annabelle (9), Georgine (8), and Archer (6) instantly loved her.

In December 2024, Jordan experienced severe pain from what seemed like a cracked rib. After being taken to the VA Hospital, they found numerous tumors, including a large mass in his abdomen. Transferred to Stanford VA in Palo Alto, doctors discovered multiple cancers, likely due to burn pit exposure during his Marine Corps service. Unfortunately, he has suffered hair loss, nausea, bone pain, and other side effects.

Jordan drives weekly to Palo Alto for treatment, which takes him away from his family. Occasionally, Carolyn joins him to provide support during these treatments. Jordan and Carolyn are managing everything while maintaining a loving home and emotional support for their children, who are adapting to significant changes.

A Special Night of Giving

North Fork BBQ

To begin, this event is sponsored by Leia Wentworth, Ashley Tobin, and Trevor Seward, with Lisa Hirschman as the April Venue Sponsor. Attendees must purchase prepaid dinner, catered by North Fork BBQ, tickets at MYSOSEvent.com.

Additionally, attendees must provide a minimum $10 monetary gift at the door, payable in cash, check (made out to Carolyn Saulnier-Cowdrey), or Venmo. Every dollar collected will go directly to Carolyn.

In addition to dinner, attendees can participate in a raffle, silent auction, and live auction, with all proceeds benefiting Carolyn. Community members are encouraged to donate prizes or auction items by contacting a HOW leader for arrangements. At the end of the evening, Carolyn will randomly draw the May HOW nominee.

Event Details

• RSVP Deadline: Sunday, April 13th at 10:00 a.m.
• Event Date: Wednesday, April 16th at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
• Where: Sierra Senior Center, Oakhurst, CA
• Cost: Purchase a dinner ticket (Prices vary)
• Additional Gift: Attendees must provide a minimum $10 monetary recipient gift at the door. All proceeds go directly to Carolyn.

NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR, SO MAKE SURE TO RSVP AHEAD OF TIME.

HOW You Can Help

Community involvement is essential to making this event a success. Here’s how you can contribute:

• Attend the dinner by purchasing a prepaid ticket and making a monetary gift.
• Donate raffle or auction items to help raise additional funds for Carolyn.
• Spread the word and invite friends, family, and colleagues to participate.

For more information, contact HOW Oakhurst Chapter leaders:

Why This Matters

Helping One Woman (HOW)

Helping One Woman is built on the belief that small acts of kindness can create a significant impact. The HOW motto emphasizes:

• One woman with $10.00 can buy another woman lunch
• Ten women with $10.00 can buy another woman’s groceries
• One hundred women with $10.00 can make a real difference in another woman’s life.

For more information about HOW, visit here.