MEDIA RELEASE BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRE WELLINGTON
CENTRE WELLINGTON – On Saturday March 26, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington (BBBSCW) hosted its 7th Big Night Out Gala fundraiser at the GrandWay Event Centre in Elora, with a Kentucky Derby theme.
The annual fundraiser helps to support the many programs that BBBSCW offers, serving approximately 250 local youth annually. These programs are designed to assist young people facing adversity by providing a consistent and supportive mentor to form a developmental relationship.
The Big Night Out Gala, presented by RLB LLP and MFC Lawyers, was their first in-person Gala since March 2020, only weeks before the world shut down for the pandemic.
“To be honest, our team, including me, felt shaky going in, with so many things new and different, for example, no masks, new venue, different people on the team, etc.,” said Kristen Drexler, executive director of BBBSCW. “But then our guests started to arrive and they brought their smiles, enthusiasm and amazing bold outfits, fascinators and grand hats to our Derby themed gala, and all felt right again!”
This year’s Gala honoured Nicole Spring, recipient of the Outstanding Little Award, sponsored by MEC/MHC, while the Big Star Award for a BBBSCW volunteer went to Denis Craddock for his contributions as a Big Brother over the last several years.
“I have been on the board since 2017 and still get surprised with how many firsts I experience with this organization,” BBBSCW board chair Pam Stumpf explained. “For example, seven years of galas and we just had our first hybrid gala with 216 guests in person and about 40 virtually.”
“This event is just as much about awareness raising as it is fund raising,” Stumpf said. “We were blown away by all the sponsors and donors and we need to share the stories of impact that are happening every day with the youth we serve, so they feel pride in the difference they are making.”
By the end of the night, just over $80,000 was raised for BBBSCW, but the total can still climb. Chris Mochrie of M1 Real Estate Brokerage announced at the end of the night that anyone can bid on a week at their newly acquired Turks and Caicos private luxury waterfront villa for 14 guests. All proceeds from this will help bring BBBSCW closer to their goal of $100,000. Details on the property and how you can bid until April 4 are at:
www.centrewellington.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/event/time-for-turks/.
“We are grateful to all who took part in this year’s Big Night Out Gala and for the continued support of our community in the important work we get to do,” Drexler said.
For more information on how you can help BBBSCW reach their fundraising goal for this event, or to learn more about volunteer or placement opportunities, please visit centrewellington.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
