By all accounts, it’s not a bad haul for one night’s work. In fact, it was the highest amount ever brought in.
The Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation collected more than $380,000 from its Friend Raiser Gala on Jan. 26. It didn’t really take just that one night, of course, as the organizing team (and its multitude of backers) put in months of effort to pull off the event, its most successful one ever.
“It really just boils down to the generosity of the community of supporters before and at the event, whether it be guests, corporate sponsors, and donors that evening … there isn't one single stream of support that is stronger than the other. It's really just a community of support,” explained gala chair Corinna Dooley of the record take.
The event was held at the Enjoy Centre and saw a gathering of 680 in attendance – “an absolute sell-out,” Dooley previously noted, which was also a record high for the organization.
That fundraising sum total went to support various pieces of vital equipment for the hospital’s Critical Care Unit, including a transport ventilator, a renal dialysis machine, sleep chairs, and a bronchoscope.
She was thrilled all around with the gala’s success, calling the new purchases “awesome” in terms of how they will improve care at the facility that serves hundreds of thousands of people across northern Alberta. All of that can be attributed straight back to that one night of cocktails, music, and community spirit.
“It's awesome to be able to correlate revenue generated that night directly to equipment that will be placed in the hospital and labeled as donations from the Sturgeon Community Hospital Foundation in the actual hospital.”
The foundation’s next big fundraiser will be its summer Heritage Golf Classic. Just in case you’re planning out your social calendar for next year, the Friend Raiser Gala will make its return on January 31, 2021. Visit sturgeonhospitalfoundation.org for more info on both as it is made available.
Period products please
The drive is on for tampons, pads, and other menstrual hygiene product donations.
No Woman Without. Period. is in the last week of its third annual collection campaign in the metro Edmonton area. The charity event began out of a need for period products after its organizer noticed that they were not top of mind when people thought of how to help women in need.
“The most common feedback we receive is ‘I’d never even thought about that.’ There is massive need for menstrual hygiene products in our communities,” founder Scarlet Bjornson explained.
Last year, the campaign amassed 95,000 products. The proof that they were much-needed goods is evidenced by their absence.
“The reality is that most of those 95,000 products that were donated last year are already gone. That is how much need there is. Unfortunately, while demand is high, donations haven’t been as high as last year.”
The campaign ends on Saturday, Feb. 29 and has numerous drop-off locations throughout Edmonton including St. Albert Vision Centre at 3520 Tudor Glen Market. The products will then be distributed to WIN House, Lurana Shelter, the Bissell Centre, and other organizations that serve Edmontonians in need.
Visit nowomanwithout.com for more information.
