As the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation tabulates the final numbers for a record-setting fundraiser, a new community-wide 50/50 fundraising effort is already underway.
The final tabulations have been done for the gala fundraiser held Oct. 15.
“It was our highest grossing gala yet, and we’ve netted over $205,000,” said Laura Butler, foundation development officer.
That is $20,000 more than budgeted.
The formal dinner and dance featured a video presentation about the value of the cardiac monitor equipment needed at the hospital, and local restaurant owner Mario Bitoiu told the audience about his personal experiences after a heart attack.
“I think it really hit home,” Butler said of Bitoiu’s story.
“You can really feel the philanthropic spirit of the community we live in.”
Butler said the live auction had a broad range of items this year, and they brought in $23,000. That was matched by an anonymous donor, bringing in another $46,000
She said all of the raffles and every fundraising initiative did better than expected.
“The overwhelming response we received at the hospital gala is heartwarming,” said Lisa Prophet, 2016 Gala organizing committee chair, RMHF board member and publisher of the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
“People responded to the need that our hospital has, a hospital that serves two vibrant communities and we are overwhelmed at the generosity of our donors, sponsors and attendees at the event to help us raise over a quarter of a million dollars. That number has a great ring to it.”
The gala is the foundation’s signature fundraiser, but a new one is already underway.
The new fundraiser called the 50/50 Fortune Raffle. Tickets are $10 each, with half of the proceeds going to the winner, and the other half to the foundation’s fundraising efforts. The maximum will be 7,500 tickets, so the winner could receive $37,500.
Tickets are available at the foundation office at the hospital.