Tying into the Academy Awards the following night, “Come As You or Come As A Star” is the theme of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s ninth-annual fundraising event coming up Saturday, March 4 at La Place Rendez-Vous.
And the pre-Oscar party is shaping up to be an evening of blockbuster proportions, Foundation director Teresa Hazel said yesterday.
“We’ve got our very own ‘Joan Rivers’ [Susan Livingston of Winnipeg] on the red carpet,” she noted. “We’ve got a ‘Sweet Tooth’ bar [where people can buy candy and desserts], a ‘Bombshell Bar’ [for drinks], and we’re gonna ‘Wish Upon A Star’ for prizes.
“And we’ll have our ‘Oscar Mania’ contest, where [people] can pick who they’ll think will win in five different categories.
“Then Sunday [the night of the Academy Awards], we’ll find out who wins and we’ll have prizes for who gets all of them correct,” she added.
Hazel said people are encouraged to dress up as their favourite celebrity, but they also can come as themselves—just be sure to glam it up!
“We’re looking for our own George Clooney to grace the red carpet,” she chuckled. “Or if someone knows George Clooney and would like to invite him—nah, he’s probably busy getting ready for the Oscars.”
Joan Allison, who chairs the Foundation’s special events committee, said she’s predicting the pre-Oscar Awards gala to be a smash hit.
“We’ve got lots and lots of things planned,” she enthused, adding that invitations recently were sent out to people who have attended previous Riverside fundraisers.
But Allison stressed it’s not an invite-only event. “We welcome anyone. It really is going to be a fun evening,” she promised.
Allison noted one of the star attractions at the fundraiser is the silent auction, which will feature numerous items either related to a celebrity or, at least, to Hollywood movies.
So far, they include:
•an autographed jersey by Mike Modano of the Dallas Stars;
•a jersey signed by Olympic beach volleyball champion John Child;
•a designer dress by Eryn Reid;
•a “Barbie Goes to the Oscars” doll dress made by Ruth Brockie;
•Vi Plumridge art;
•a 3.79-litre bottle of “perfume;”
•some first-edition autographed copies of the novel “Cold Blood” by Minnesota author Theresa Monsour (a relative of local resident Patti Jorgenson); and
•several large two-sided movie posters just like the ones you see outside movie theatres.
“They’re gorgeous. We hope to put them in the windows at the Rendez-Vous beforehand so people can see them,” Allison said of the posters, which were donated by Rochelle Duchnicki.
“They’re incredible.”
Allison added the committee also is trying to find local musicians to play some of this year’s Oscar-nominated songs at the gala.
Prior to the event, the public is encouraged to donate $2 and “Be A Star for Health Care.”
“We’re selling the stars at various location around town,” noted Hazel. “With each star you purchase, you will be eligible to win tickets to the Oscar party.”
Stars currently are being sold at Badiuk Equipment, the Emo Health Centre, 364 Store, BDO Dunwoody, Cousineau Brokers, La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary gift shop, Green’s Countrywide, La Place Rendez-Vous, and the Fort Frances Times.
“We’re looking to get them sold at all the banks, Curves, Robin’s—we’re hoping more places will take it on now and just have a two-week blitz,” she added.
Tickets are now available for the “Come As You or Come As A Star” gala. They cost $50 each (with a $25 tax receipt), or get a table of 10 for $500 (bronze sponsor), $1,000 (silver sponsor), or $1,500 (gold sponsor).
Tax receipts also will be available for these sponsors.
All proceeds will go towards keeping the district’s three health care facilities state-of-the-art.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
