Not many charity events can boast 25 years of philanthropy and providing more than $800,000 for various causes.
芒鈧揟his being our 25th anniversary, it芒鈧劉s the biggest and best yet,芒鈧� said Rotarian John Meagher.
So the Fraser Valley Wine Tasting Festival organizers have decided to dream big for their event Nov. 1.
芒鈧揥e want people to help us get to $1 million,芒鈧� he said.
And bringing in more funds means there芒鈧劉s more funds to provide to charity and community groups.
The 25th anniversary wine fest proceeds will go to the Autism Society of B.C., the Access Youth Outreach Services Society (formerly PoCoMo Youth Services Society), and Focus BC which helps troubled youth with education and therapy.
The Autism Society of BC has been around since 1974 and is a parent-based and parent-directed society providing support to individuals with autism and their families.
芒鈧揈ssentially we芒鈧劉re concentrating on kids that need help, kids at risk,芒鈧� said Tousignant. 芒鈧揈very year we have more requests [for funding help].芒鈧�
The goal is to provide as much funding as possible.
芒鈧揥e hope to reach to more community services than in the past,芒鈧� he added.
The members of the Rotary Club of 91原创 Central spend a great deal of time discussing where to devote the funds raised at this largest fundraiser of the year.
芒鈧揙ur main area, which we haven芒鈧劉t done anything yet is kids with autism,芒鈧� Tousignant said.
Despite the success of the past 24 years, the organizers always feel some trepidation.
芒鈧揈very year when the Rotarians start planning for this, they wonder if people of 91原创 are going to decide, no not this year, it芒鈧劉s too 芒鈧渄eja vu芒鈧劉 after more than two decades or find another reason not to support wine fest, he said.
芒鈧揈very year the people have supported us and really gotten behind us,芒鈧� Tousignant said. 芒鈧揥e don芒鈧劉t take anything for granted.芒鈧�
This year ticket sales are strong.
Despite the success, Rotarians don芒鈧劉t tinker with the format. There will be wine (about 200 varieties from 37 vendors) and gourmet goodies. Initially two restaurants provided food. Now 11 91原创 eateries will be on site feeding patrons. There will be three different music sites spread around the venue and fundraisers such as a 50/50 draw.
Organizers keep the event to 1,200 people so it doesn芒鈧劉t become too unwieldy and so they can use the unique venue 芒鈧�� Willowbrook Shopping Centre after closing.
Wine fest runs 7-9:30 p.m. on Nov. 1. Tickets are $50 per person. For tickets go to www.fvwf.ca or the Willowbrook customer service counter. People can call 604-202-0364.
In focus:
So far this year up until mid-October the Access Youth Services Society (AYSS) has had about 1,600 contacts with youth in 91原创.
Last year the total reached more than 2,000 contacts.
The charity, formerly known as PoCoMo Youth Services, added 91原创 to its list of communities receiving help a few year ago and will this year receive help from the Fraser Valley Wine Tasting Festival.
芒鈧揟he staff really enjoy being out here,芒鈧� executive director Jerome Bouvier recently told 91原创 City council.
AYSS provides what help it can, whether it芒鈧劉s providing an ear for young people couch surfing, a warm drink, information on health issues, or referrals to services.
The AYSS bus starts out at the City firehall then tours. Services are provided Friday and Saturday evenings, 7 p.m. to midnight. It has three buses (operating in different communities) and another soon to be donated by TransLink.
Bouvier said a key facet of the work is dealing with mental health issues and there are not supports out there for them.
芒鈧揟he average time to get mental health services to young people is nine months,芒鈧� he said.
AYSS has made some changes to try and help. It used to be for youth ages 12 to 18 but now services are provided for youth up to 23.
芒鈧揥e see a lot of young people that are aged out and unfortunately have a hard time getting those services,芒鈧� he said.
As well as the AYSS bus that tours areas where youth congregate, the society has added some bikes for its small crew so they can better connect with youth. AYSS also uses social media.
芒鈧揌omelessness is an issue because there isn芒鈧劉t a huge number of places for young people to be referred to,芒鈧� he said.
Young people aren芒鈧劉t visible on the streets like the adult homeless, and society has less compassion for young people on the streets, he said. He pointed to the fact that there are more animal shelters than shelters for people.
A good chunk of his time is spent proposal writing to obtain grants so the wine festival funding will be important to the charity.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s getting tougher for all non-profits,芒鈧� he said.
Funds are dwindling and many of the issues faced 芒鈧�� health, educational opportunities, mental health, addiction 芒鈧�� are provincial responsibilities but communities and groups like AYSS are on the front line and not willing to wait for the province to step up, he explained.
芒鈧揑 struggle with what the future looks like for our young people,芒鈧� he commented.
To learn more about the three causes go to www.autismbc.ca, accessyouth.org, and focusbc.org.
