Big Brothers Big Sisters exceeds fundraising goal at gala

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on November 5, 2024.

Herald photo by Al Beeber The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District far exceeded their fundraising goal during the organization's "Big Gala" held on Saturday at the Coast Hotel.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Jen Visser and her team with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District on Saturday were hoping to equal last year’s record of $85,000 after expenses raised during the organization’s “Big Gala.”

But Saturday’s sold-out event that attracted 400 people to the Coast Hotel for a live and silent auction did more than that.

At the end of the live auction, the executive director of the organization announced to loud applause the Big Brothers Big Sisters event had raised $125,000.

The gala – the organization’s third fundraiser of the year – attracted a whos-who of the political and business communities of the city with Lethbridge MP Rachael Thomas and at least two city councillors in attendance along with Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh.

Bidding was fast and furious on many of the live auction items as the crowd eagerly sought to help Big Brothers Big Sisters have a strong evening.

“We rely significantly on the community to fund our organization. We’re about $550,000 a year budget and we fundraise close to $300,000 a year,” said Visser Saturday before an opening speech to the audience.

“The need for mentors is astronomical. There are so many kids in our community that could use extra support. We also serve Lethbridge and district so we have a large rural population,” said Visser, that population which was the focus of a new initiative announced Saturday.

That initiative called Fields of Growth is a three-year rural commitment “which I’m so excited about,” added Visser.

The gala had a balloon raffle in addition to the auctions which had guests popping gold balloons to retrieve what hopefully winning tickets for special prizes.

Before dinner, Visser told the crowd “I really appreciate everything that you people do for Big Brothers Big Sisters. We couldn’t do it without the people in this room tonight.”

Visser talked about the importance of mentorship, saying “when a young person has a mentor in their life, they’re given guidance, they’re given strength. Mentors show them how to stand up to challenges and how to grow from experiences, giving them that resiliency that every person needs to succeed. Your support makes those life-changing initiatives possible,” said Visser.

To date in 2024, the organization has served more than 1,000 youth, Visser said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, she said, is a barebones organization with four case workers and a bookkeeper in addition to herself. She thanked her staff who she said “work so hard, so tirelessly” and are amazing contributors to the community.

In 2023, the organization served more than 1,314 youth.

She thanked everyone who has helped the organization, making a difference one child at a time.

“Here’s to a future that every young person has the support that they need to become the best version of themselves,” said Visser.

The organization has a range of mentoring programs withe mentors serving as role models who teach by example the importance of such things as staying in school, respecting family, peers and communities and of giving and giving back.

Professional, trained staff carefully screen volunteers and match them in “long-term safe mentoring relationships while providing necessary ongoing management and support for the volunteers, children, and families all free of charge.”