Riel-Evate fundraiser should be a tasty treat

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This article was published 11/12/2021 (1458 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When community supports community, all sorts of good things can happen.

And when it comes to the ongoing efforts of the Riel-Evate Endowment Fund committee, as well as the wider community at large, more than 40 school communities in the Louis Riel School Division stand to potentially benefit from the group’s latest fundraising drive.

The fund itself was established in the spring of 2019 by Louis Riel School Division in partnership with the Winnipeg Foundation, and the goal is to help foster and support student success while investing in programs and initiatives in the division’s community that have a positive impact in the lives of students and their families.

The committee is currently comprised of LRSD board trustees Sandy Nemeth and Tom Parker, as well as Franky Czinege, Sandra-Dee Beer, Rick Haley, Tamara McCaffrey and Bev Mulholland.

In the spring of 2021, the committee held an online 50/50 raffle, and it’s now running an online fundraiser that includes both a 50/50 raffle and a prize raffle, which includes 10 prize packs with gift cards, as well as donated merchandise.

The draws will take place on Dec. 17. At press time, the 50/50 pot was $1,795.

Beer, whose three children all attend schools in the division, was part of an outreach effort to local businesses and restaurants in St. Vital, St. Boniface and Sage Creek in the fall.

She’s been involved with her kids’ parent advisory councils during the best part of the last decade, and she was the founding chair of the École Sage Creek School PAC.

When committee members reached out to the restaurants, the endeavour was approached sensitively, as they were well aware that some of the businesses may have not been in a position to donate in light of constraints imposed by the pandemic.

“After initial inquiries in September, we were thrilled with the positive response and knew we’d be able to create some great prize packages,” Beer told The Lance recently. “Some jumped on board quickly, and it helped that some students that go to school in the division work at some of these restaurants.”

The donors, Beer added, came from all over LRSD with gift card donations.

At present, there are 41 schools in the Louis Riel School Division, according to its website. Beer said the schools lie between Marion School in the north, École Sage Creek School in the east, Samuel Burland School in the south and Nordale School in the west.

Go online at www.fundingchange.ca/rielevate/YUYrXsWB3ySjZXXn to buy tickets for the fundraiser. Visit LRSDRielEvate on Facebook and @RIELEVATE on Twitter for more information.