Spring Fling, a fundraiser for four local charities or non-profits in the community, raised more money than expected. As a result, those charities got bigger cheques than anticipated.
Hope4MVCKids, the charity that received 50 per cent of funds raised under Spring Fling rules, got a cheque for $17,400. The other three charities benefiting from the second annual event received cheques for $6,300 each.
They are: funding for Chinook Arch Victims Services compassion dog; the Olds Gymnastics Club, which planned to obtain a spring floor to improve safety for club members; and a project to expand the Holy Trinity School playground.
Hope 4MVCKids Society founder Lisa Nicholson is pleased with the extra money.
“These extra funds will go a long way to help even more local families with children in medical need,” she said. “This money will create ‘hope' for local families when they need it the most.”
She expressed gratitude for all those who bought tickets to Spring Fling and voted for Hope4MVCKids.
Nicholson also praised the event and its organizers.
“The Spring Fling committee, event sponsors, volunteers, other service groups and media partners were a complete joy to work with. This collaboration also helped spread the word of our group and what we do for families in the local community,” she said.
Spring Fling, a combination charity fundraiser and celebration of the arrival of spring, is co-ordinated by the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Olds Regional Exhibition and Olds Institute.
Spring Fling organizing committee co-chairs Tracy Gardner and Hugh Bodmer say there are a couple of reasons that more money was raised than first thought this year.
First, more tickets were sold than expected. Initially, it was believed that about 400 tickets were sold. The figure ended up being 444, so that resulted in more revenue than anticipated.
As a consequence, a total of $33,300 was raised, well above the $30,000 initially calculated.
Secondly, donations and revenue from drinks raised more money than anticipated. So organizers distributed another $750 to each of the charities.
Spring Fling takes place at the Cow Palace. Patrons pay $75 per ticket and vote for one of four charities or non-profits.
The charities chosen get a chance to showcase themselves and undertake fund-raising activities.
The one receiving the most votes obtains 50 per cent of the proceeds. The remaining funds are split between the other three causes. This year, Hope4MVCKids received the most votes.
When all other sources of funding fail, Hope4MVCKids provides assistance to families whose children require medical help.
All four charities/non-profits received their cheques during a presentation at Mountain View Publishing on Wednesday, May 11. Representatives of those groups burst into applause when Gardner announced the extra money for them.
Bodmer calculated that Spring Fling has generated about $65,000 for local charities and non-profits during its first two years.
“Sixty-five thousand (dollars) in two years or thereabouts? That's not bad,” he said.
Bodmer was asked if there'll be a third Spring Fling next year.
“I suspect that we'll keep on, but I can't speak for the partners,” he said.
Gardner indicated it would make sense to keep it going.
“The formula is so perfect for the event because, I mean, what other opportunity is there in the community to raise more than $60,000 in two years,” she said.
“That's one objective. And the second objective is to filter that money into very worthwhile projects in our community. So how else can we gather that kind of buy-in and financial support – in addition to building awareness of what's happening in our community?
“Those are all things that are factors as to why we think Spring Fling is very valuable and beneficial to our community,” she added.
“One of the charities – I can't remember which one – indicated they could never have bought the kind of publicity they got. They didn't have the budget to do that kind of promotion,” Bodmer said.
Gardner said this year's Spring Fling has already helped increase the profile of Hope4MVCKids.
“If nothing else, now they know what it means to our community. So there's a value to that – there's a qualitative value to awareness,” she said.
Bodmer agreed.
“And how many (people) knew about the dog? And how many knew we had a gymnastics club? So that awareness piece was really important,” he said.
"The formula is so perfect for the event because, I mean, what other opportunity is there in the community to raise more than $60,000 in two years." TRACY GARDNERCO-CHAIR SPRING FLING ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
