The Bea Fisher Foundation officially launched the start of its third and final New Year’s gala party and fundraiser on Monday with board members and sponsors in attendance. The foundation hopes to raise $100,000 to renovate their care homes. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
Get ready to celebrate the third and final New Year’s Eve fundraising gala by the Bea Fisher Foundation with a new party destination theme in mind.
“In 2019, we took everyone to New York. Last year, after a gap, we were off to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This year, we are going to capture a lot of sights and sounds from Las Vegas,” said the Foundation’s marketing and business development coordinator, Kim Crockett.
The 2023 gala campaign kicked off on Monday at a press conference, with Crockett announcing work would start Tuesday to renovate four kitchens in Bea Fisher’s 24-hour care homes for persons with developmental disabilities.
The funds for the renovations came from the $80,000 to $90,000 raised at last year’s gala.
The goal this year is to raise $100,000 to go toward some outstanding upgrades and home improvements.
“Specifically, it could be things like flooring, countertops, additional kitchen renovations—any improvements that our care homes need—that’s where the funding is going to,” explained Crockett.
“There’s always going to be things going on with 60 individuals that live in some sort of 24-hour care facility that we operate.”
Crockett says this will be the final gala as it’s run its course with organization fatigue and the realization they should reach the overall target of $250,000 for priority home improvements.
The Foundation has also moved on from its Colour Run funder last held in 2022.
“It ran for almost 10 years, but we felt it was time for a bit of a change,” said Crockett.
“Our Foundation board is starting to retool that thought a little bit and we’ll figure out what’s going to be the next big event. For this year, the big event is certainly going to be the gala.”
As for the party itself, hang on to your hats and whistles starting with the New Year’s Eve dinner with more than 400 guests expected at the WLS Convention Centre on Dec. 31.
“The exhibition staff has been phenomenal about working with us. Generally, we go off menu and we create a meal specific to whatever the theme is that evening,” said Crockett.
“So with Las Vegas, it’s just about going to be an anything goes. We’re going to come up with a meal we think is reflective of Las Vegas and something that is going to wow the guests that come that evening.”
There’s also going to be before and during dinner entertainment with a local band, along with the high-energy closing band, Uptown Entertainment, who’s back for the third time by popular demand.
There will also be a draw for a luxury trip and a few fun fundraisers along with an updated video showing the opportunities the Foundation creates for those in their care.
Crockett says that will provide a little more context for guests explaining the fundraising purpose at the gala.
“But we respect this is peoples’ New Year’s Eve and we’re not there every hour of the evening to raise another dollar,” he added.
“There’s going to be a point where we say we’re done with that part of the celebration. This is New Year’s Eve.”
The event launch, held at Bea Fisher’s administration office, was also an opportunity to recognize the impact of platinum sponsors Border City Concrete, Redhead Equipment, Rusway Construction and Fortune Civil Construction Ltd. on fundraising.
This year Cenovus Energy joins gold sponsors Astec Safety and Musgrave Agencies.
“These are the businesses that provide the seed money to make this event happen for the last three years,” said Crockett with many sponsor reps looking on.
He also noted more than 50 individuals in the care of Bea Fisher have some kind of paid or volunteer placement at organizations and businesses in Lloydminster.
The final words about sponsors went to event co-chair and Foundation director Lana Lane.
“We hope it will be another successful one and we couldn’t do it without the support of the businesses we have in this room and the ones that couldn’t come today,” said Lane.
