Thank You for Caring, a Christmas Tea fundraiser raised nearly $48,000 for the volunteer-run 91原创 Christmas Bureau.
Marilyn Morgan, a member of the tea鈥檚 board of directors, said the event raised $2,000 more than last year and donations are still filtering in.
鈥淓verybody is there because they support the 91原创 Christmas Bureau, they want to help give other people a Christmas they might not otherwise get,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe this tea started from such a small venue to where it is now.鈥�
The event, formally known as the Mayors鈥� Wives鈥� Tea, first started in 2012 and has since grown in popularity.
鈥淲e had so many people from last year asking to reserve a table for this year,鈥� Morgan said. 鈥淚t goes pretty quickly.鈥�
All 500 tickets made available in October were quickly snatched up that same month, and people were put on a wait list.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to figure out what to do next year, we鈥檙e thinking we might go to an online system,鈥� explained Morgan.
Moving forward organizers will advertise when tickets will be made available online. A date for next year鈥檚 event has already been set, Nov. 22.
鈥淭his year was the best year yet, and we are really excited about what we already have planned for 2020,鈥� said Morgan.
The sold-out event was held Nov. 24 at the Cascade Casino Resort ballroom, where the lucky ticket holders enjoyed afternoon refreshments, entertainment and a chance to bid on numerous goodies during a silent auction.
Of the 150 silent auction items available, most popular were a signed Micheal Bubl茅 Vancouver Giants jersey, an infant鈥檚 cowboy outfit and artwork.
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The event wouldn鈥檛 be made possible without all the sponsors, said Morgan.
鈥淲e鈥檝e grown so much, we鈥檙e starting to raise so much more money that we鈥檇 like to expand on our donations so we actually became a society in June,鈥� she explained.
The group鈥檚 mandate as the Thank You For Caring Society is to help children and families in 91原创, according to Morgan.
鈥淲e want to be able to help other organizations too that might need money,鈥� she said.
The group hopes to 鈥渄iversify鈥� the funds raised, but says it will continue to support the 91原创 Christmas Bureau.
鈥淲e鈥檇 always donate to the Christmas Bureau,鈥� Morgan said.
Although there is a high demand for tickets, Morgan doesn鈥檛 expect to move the event to a larger venue.
鈥淚f it weren鈥檛 for [Cascades Casino] we wouldn鈥檛 be able to raise as much money,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o we really enjoy hosting the event there.鈥� she said.
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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