Sweet prizes, great food and hot blues licks were all part of the night’s agenda during Wakamow Valley Authority’s third annual Shake Off the Winter Blues Fest held Friday night.
More than 150 people filled the Wakamow Valley Sportsman Centre to take in a chicken and rib dinner and also feast on the blues music of Albert Castiglia and Bill Durst for a great cause. The fundraising event was held to raise proceeds for a planned ultra-accessible wheelchair playground.
“We have a great turnout and we feel really optimistic about what we can raise tonight with all of the great auction prizes available,” Wakamow Valley communications coordinator Gisele Perrault told the Times-Herald. “It really goes to show what great people we have in the community and they know what a great thing this will be for the entire community.”
Perrault added the volunteers who helped put the event together and worked during the event were extremely valuable and wonderful community members. “I work for Conexus and we like to do a lot of community work and I think that Wakamow has an important program to build the new playground,” Donna Litzenbergur said. “I just thought it would be great to come on out and help for such a well deserved project.”
“Some of the auction prizes included an autographed George Reed Roughriders jersey, a full sized poker set, a $1,000 gift certificate in painting services and a summer golf membership,” Perrault said.
Other auction prizes included gift baskets, a $350 gift certificate to Temple Gardens Spa, pizza for a year, a Labatt Blue portable bar and an oil painting donated by Major and Maxwell Art Gallery.
“One of our major sponsors is Casino Regina and Moose Jaw and it’s one of our major fundraisers to generate funds to make this great night happen,” chairman of the Wakamow Valley/Wascana board Don Butchko said. “It’s so important for the community and Wakamow to make the community that much more accessible for everyone.”
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