Riverside Foundation gearing up for annual banquet

“Come Fly With Us” will be the theme of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s annual fundraising dinner this year.
And after the enormous success of the “Care Close to Home” campaign, the Foundation certainly has a great deal to celebrate.
“What a year we’ve had!” enthused Foundation director Teresa Hazel. “We are definitely ready to celebrate.”
To show its appreciation for the support given by the district, the Foundation has decided to lower the price of tickets to the fundraising dinner–a decision the chair of the special events committee is hoping will attract more people.
“We are doing this to say thank you to the district for the overwhelming support we have received not only this year but every year since our inception in 1997,” said Joan Allison.
Still flying high from their “Care Close to Home” success, organizers have decided to go with a bird theme–something Allison feels is quite fitting.
“We have asked individuals to make or donate bird-themed items like bird houses, bird feeders, carvings, pictures, or whatever,” she noted. “We will really take anything that people have to give.”
In addition to the silent auction, guests also will see the return of the Martini Bar and Dancing with Borka.
“Last year, the martini bar was quite popular and so were the dance demonstrations by Mme. Borka Gauthier,” said Hazel. “Guests were invited to the dance floor to learn dances like the Mambo.”
Promising to be one of the highlights of the evening, John McTaggart and his committee members also will be on hand to announce the final total raised in the “Care Close to Home” campaign.
The campaign, which raised money for the local share of renovations at La Verendrye hospital here and the Emo Health Centre, had surpassed its goal of $3.5 million in early January. But donations have continued to come in.
“We are keeping the final total under wraps until the annual dinner,” said McTaggart. “I hope there is a good number of people [there] who have supported ‘Care Close to Home’ because it really is a time for celebration.”
Foundation chairman Jim Krag is hoping people will come out to enjoy the evening, too, but they also won’t forget there’s still work to be done.
“This really is an amazing achievement for our district,” noted Krag. “Although the ‘Care Close to Home’ campaign will officially end, the Foundation will need the ongoing support from the district to continue to provide quality health care services–close to home.”
If you would like to purchase a ticket, sponsor a table, or donate an item for the silent auction, contact Hazel at 274-4803.