Marcy Lemieux (holding cheque on right) was joined by staff and board members of the Caisse Alliance to present a $50,000 cheque to Sylvie Bélanger (holding cheque), Executive Director of Community Living West Nipissing, during the organisation’s fundraising gala on April 26. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games. 
Elegantly dressed to the theme of ‘Moulin Rouge’, the crowd at the Community Living West Nipissing fundraising gala April 26 danced to the sounds of Roadhouse, following a cocktail, a gourmet meal, silent and live auctions and games.
Suzanne Gammon
Tribune
It was another night of glitz, glamour and generosity at the bi-annual Community Living gala on Saturday, April 26. Around 240 guests dressed up in retro glam and filled the elaborately decorated Marcel Noël hall to enjoy cocktails, hors-d’oeuvres, a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions and dancing to the popular band Roadhouse, all to the theme of Moulin Rouge.
Of course, no one forgot the reason they were all there and the night was another smash fundraiser for Community Living West Nipissing, giving them a huge boost to help provide special services, equipment and experiences to the people they serve.
Tickets were sold at $125 apiece, ten main sponsors paid for a VIP table, and early estimates place the auction revenues at around $50,000. Once again, pies and cakes were auctioned off for exorbitant bids, with one cake fetching $1250. Prize packages all went for well over their value, including a $7,000 travel voucher that sold for over $11,000 – showing that bidders were there for the cause and not just the goods.
“Even with the economic uncertainty today, we all know times are tough and people are feeling the pressure, but people were still so generous. It was an incredible success and we are so grateful,” gushes Sylvie Bélanger, Executive Director of Community Living West Nipissing. In addition to the bids, all the prize packages and auction items were donated, she points out.
Bélanger says the organisation has not yet tallied all the expenses and revenues, with some bills still coming in, but she is confident they will be at least close to, if not over, $50,000. She mentions that even the professional auctioneers brought in for the evening were amazed at the bids, adding she has no words to express “how extremely grateful we are for the support and generosity.”
Bélanger explains that the funds raised help cover expenses for essential things that people would have to go without otherwise. “The people we support are on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program), but you can’t live on that. They can barely afford their rent,” she deplores, adding that ODSP is not indexed to the cost of living and has not kept up with inflation.
This means that when people need specialized equipment, like orthotics or a walker, support to attend medical appointments, glasses, dentures or other things “needed for their quality of life,” some extra help is required. Thanks to the gala, they now have a place to turn to for that help. Bélanger says they have paid for things like driving lessons, trips to visit family, respite for families in crisis, a specialized tricycle, furniture and other essentials, but the specialized equipment is probably the most common type of purchase. With ODSP benefits so low, she says people sometimes “have to choose between rent and groceries”, so attendees at the gala were asked to donate $25, $50 or $100 for grocery gift cards, which will come in handy for Community Living clients struggling to make ends meet.
Bélanger explains that a committee was formed with members of the public, Community Living staff and board members, and they receive the formal requests for funds and approve each expense.
In addition to being thankful to donors, Bélanger says her staff and volunteers are vital to holding this event every other year. “It takes a long time and a big team and we’re very grateful for their help,” she acknowledges.
