FERGUS – The 5th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Big Night Out gala on Feb. 29 was a great success.
About 260 people dressed to the nines to join in the “Roaring 20s” theme for one of the most important fundraising events of the year for Big Brothers Big Sisters Centre Wellington (BBBSCW).
“Once again, we are overwhelmed by the success of this event, based entirely on the community who made this a sold-out night, and the sponsorship support of our local businesses, for making it all possible,” said Kristen Drexler, executive director of BBBSCW.
Held at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex, the event was presented by RLB LLP and MFC Lawyers.
Festivities included dinner, live entertainment performed by the Ernie Kalwa Jazz Quartet, and both a silent and live auction featuring auctioneer Steve Parr joined by television’s Storage Wars Canada auctioneer Don Reinhart.
Prizes were plentiful, including a tour through a make-shift Bootleg Alley and the grand prize giveaway of two round trip WestJet tickets anywhere the airline flies, plus an all-inclusive stay at one of four couples resorts in Jamaica, put together by Drexler Travel.
BBBSCW board chair Neil Armstrong handed out awards, to Couples Match Chris Hadlock and Janine Vanry for the Big Star Award and the Jane Cooper Award for an Outstanding Little went to their Little Brother Ehren Eichler.
“The awards are a personal highlight of the night for me because we recognize and celebrate the values and successes of what our organization is all about for the volunteers and the children they support,” said Armstrong.
The excitement culminated with the finally tally of the evening’s fundraising, a grand total of $95,000 – a record total for the Big Night Out Gala.
“It’s always emotional when we surpass our fundraising goal, because it assures us that the community is behind us in the work that we do and will continue to do for youth throughout Centre Wellington,” Drexler said.
Proceeds will support youth programming, including in-school mentoring, one-on-one matches and other events to be held at the BBBSCW youth hub at 900 Tower Street in Fergus.
For more information visit https://bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/find-agency-near/centre-wellington-on.
