The Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel has been a game changer for Richmond KidSport.
The non-profit charitable organization will hold its fifth annual Creating Community Champions Gala at the Minoru Boulevard establishment on Friday, Feb. 16.
It is the main fundraiser for an immensely important program that awarded nearly $98,000 worth of grants last year to help Richmond children be involved in 21 different sports from 38 organizations.
This comes at a time when organized athletics have never been more costly. Of the 42 KidSport chapters in the province, Richmond leads the way of awarding grants up to $500 per child.
That always hasn’t been the case.
Six years ago grants were no more than $150 and there were actually a few of months when no funds were available until a credit union stepped up with a donation.
Sanjeet Sadana became aware of the chapter’s woes as a member of the Richmond Sports Council where he represented the Richmond Cricket Club. He also happens to be the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. Bob Jackson was not only a longtime executive on the council but chair of Richmond KidSport.
“Bob was saying how they had to wait four months to hand out money again and how the grants had dropped from $200 to $150,” recalled Sadana. “I brought this idea to Gary about what we had discussed at the meeting.”
Gary Collinge is the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel’s general manager. It was his idea to host a gala dinner. Jackson was certainly grateful when he heard of the offer but had no clue just how generous it was.
“I was wondering how much were they going to charge us? When I got the email from Sanjeet he didn’t tell me. I just thought they had agreed to host this banquet,” said Jackson.
Instead, it proved to be so much more.
The hotel decided it was going to cover all the costs — from the food, equipment rentals to the kitchen and serving staff. It would even host a pre-gala reception for the special VIP guests free of charge. Every cent of every ticket sold was going back into the KidSport program.
It means the evening now raises over $50,000 thanks to a silent auction too.
“Both my kids were involved in sports. Both were in volleyball all the way through,” explained Collinge. “It keeps them out of trouble. Teaches them about teamwork. It teaches them how to get along with people as you go through the ups and downs. It’s huge for kids in my opinion.
“We heard about how hotels get behind one huge thing they believe in and everyone involved on the property is behind it 100 percent. That’s powerful. We started brainstorming. What if we were to give our ball room, our labour, our food and everyone else for just one night of the year? Let the organization do the fundraising, promoting and sell the tickets. What a great thing it would be.”
Collinge added just how much his staff have embraced the evening and want to be involved. The hotel’s contribution goes well-beyond the evening too. A portion of gourmet hamburger sales at the Cavu Kitchen and Bar goes to Richmond Kidsport and that’s year-round.
“All of our team really looks forward to it. It almost gives you a sense of purpose that you can get behind one great charity like that,” added Collinge. “It’s a great event for us. We all look forward to it and working with Bob and everyone has been absolutely fantastic. We have great relationship.
“It’s neat when you can get 100 percent behind one thing where you make a difference.”
Jackson is just grateful his sports council colleague and friend started the ball rolling five years ago to form a terrific partnership.
“It takes a community to raise a child and these people have been tremendous contributors in helping us do that,” said Jackson.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Creating Community Champions Gala. Contact [email protected] for more information.
