The community stepped up in a big way at Richmond KidSport’s Sixth Annual Creating Community Champions Gala.
This year’s event, held last Friday at the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel, raised a record $74,500. That’s roughly 50 percent more than a year ago. It means more city kids will benefit from this wonderful program that provides financial assistance to play organized sports.
“Playing sports in the Lower Mainland is very expensive but the more we can do to help families that have kids that want to participate, then we will do it,” said Bob Jackson, chair of Richmond KidSport.
It was back in 2013 when the local chapter was struggling to even come up with $150 grants. That’s when the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel offered to host a fundraising gala and cover all the food, labour and rental costs. The momentum has been building since with Richmond becoming the first BC chapter to offer maximum $500 grants. Jackson says that number will rise again thanks to the tremendous success of this year’s event.
“After two years with the Hilton, the grants went up to $300. Another two years we went up to $500, continued Jackson. “In 2017, 20 to 25 percent of the grants were for the maximum $500.
“This past year it jumped to 40 percent. The cost of sport just keeps going up so now that we have more than we anticipated we will probably raise our maximum grant to $600 and we will be the first in the province to do so.”
Jackson added the record night was somewhat of a perfect storm with additional and more attractive auction items along with attendees willing to spend money. He praised the volunteer efforts of Steve Valenzuela and Annie Watson for the evening’s success along with the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel for making it all possible.
“We had an increase in the number of donations and the second thing was the increase in quality of those donations. “We had a sold-out crowd and probably more people with deeper pockets.
“They are more prepared to give, their children have left and they still want to contribute to their community.”
