You can have a chance to win a round-trip ticket with WestJet — or a two-night stay at a waterfront hotel — in a silent auction for SHARE Family and Community Services.
The online fundraiser, which went live on Friday (Feb. 17), is part of the charity's annual Imagine gala set to be held next month in Coquitlam.
Called "A Tri-Cities Night Out," the gala also includes a 50–50 draw, of which tickets are now available via the charity's website; as of Friday, the jackpot was $1,300.
Claire MacLean, SHARE's executive director, said the gala theme is designed to invite guests to "a night on the town," with bright lights, music and familiar local street names dotted around the room.
"It's really a nod to how much this community supports, and is involved in, SHARE. The gala celebrates all the best that the Tri-Cities has — in one spot," she told the Tri-City News.
Darcel Moro, SHARE's manager of community engagement, said the evening will include food from Pasta Polo, Orrange, The Golden Boot, Cassandra Cake Co. and Doughnut Love.
And guests can burn off the calories by dancing to high-energy music from DJ TDM.
Organizers of the signature fundraiser hope to bring in $140,000 for SHARE’s services.
These include the food bank, as well as supports for refugees, and kids and youth with developmental delays and disabilities and those battling addictions and school bullies.
Although the COVID-19 restrictions are over, MacLean said the need for assistance is greater than ever as many residents deal with the compounding financial and mental health impacts of the pandemic; this past Christmas was a record for the number of food hampers delivered.
“But as much as the need is massive, we also need to find the joy and light and thank our community for helping us. There is amazing stuff happening out there every day," MacLean said.
As for the online silent auction, other prizes — besides the flight and hotel — available are:
- Predator Ridge Stay N’ Play package for one night and one round of golf for four
- Two separate private chef dining experiences from Fred Soofi from Pasta Polo and Chef Mark from Crisp Cuisine
- Tickets to see the Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Canucks, Vancouver Canadians and BC Lions
- IKEA Wardrobe System
The Imagine gala is an adult-only event that's scheduled to take place March 4, 7 to 11:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver (2080 United Blvd.).
For more information and tickets, you can visit the SHARE society's website.
The Tri-City News is a partial sponsor of the Imagine gala.
