A Successful Fundraiser

My daughter Heather and her family were  involved in a fundraiser last Saturday night for the Special Olympics Hockey team.  My grandson Adam is a member of the team. They will go to Edmonton in March to compete.

The fundraiser is an annual affair. Every year  proceeds are more. The main attraction is the  silent auction. 

Rough estimate of gross proceeds this year is $23,000. Expenditures are expected to be about $5,000
Leaving net funds raised for a good cause $18,000.

Aurorans may remember the last fund raiser held  for the July 1st Parade at the Aurora Legion in 2009. It was organised by a sub-committee of the town's leisure services committee therefore under the auspices of the Town.  The committee chairperson Sher St. Kitts  reported no proceeds.

It was announced as a fundraiser the Tuesday before the event by the Mayor at a Council meeting.

Afterwards when no statement was forthcoming about proceeds, as was the norm, questions were asked.

The questions were directed to  the administration. Answers were not provided.  Reason being, the event was organized by the Aurora Dream Team and staff had no authority to inquire nto the affairs of a private organization.

Because no funds were reported, the town provided funding in the amount of $8,000 for the July 1st Parade in the 2009 budget. St Kitts came to a budget meeting and asked for more. There would be no parade without more funding. Councillor MacEachern  moved an additional $2,000.

In 2010,no fundraiser was held. The town provided $10,000 for the Parade and $2,000. for the  organizer,St. Kitts ,to hire an assistant to organize the parade.

Appearing at an Aurora Council meeting  in 2009,  during  public forum ,which does not require a request for delegation status or a reason beforehand, the chairperson of the town's sub-committee of the Leisure Services Committee made a stream of  unfounded accusations and unsubstantiated allegations of wrong doing against a councillor.  Because  questions had been asked about funds  raised.

At the very next meeting,  Council honoured the chairperson  with a reception and a cake and a public award for  her contribution to the July 1st Parade. It was an item on the formal agenda.

The fundraiser  for the Special Olympics, held every year with higher proceeds, remind me of the Aurora  event and the question which was never answered

There was a Silent Auction. There were four tables of beautiful prizes. Donated by poople and business  in the community.

What became of the proceeds ?