On Thursday August 22, 2024 the Community Foundation was excited to host our second annual Friendraiser event at the Conexus Arts Centre. This year, we had an amazing turn out with over 100 charities in attendance and over 400 board members, partners, charity members, guests, and friends came that together for this event; the energy and feeling of community throughout the room was magical and heartwarming. This Friendraiser event sought to bring together donors and charities to share impactful stories and to bring awareness to the needs within our community. There was also a focus on connecting the research highlighted with our most recent Vital Signs research, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action to the charities and the wonderful work they do. The afternoon featured many exciting activities and experiences including live orchestral music, live Indigenous beading, a photo booth with polaroid photos, the presentation of the VSCN Award and Lasting Legacy Awards, a community puzzle activity, and a delicious variety of appetizers and beverages.
The second annual event was yet again a huge success due to the hard work of the summer students Armaan Sehgal, Karley Stangel, and Angelica Legaspina. Their dedication, hard work, communication, and professionalism allowed their vision for this event to truly come to life. Victor Roman Morrow, the Manager of Community Impact and Communications here at the Foundation, stated “I can’t express just how incredibly well this event was pulled off! I heard nothing but praise during the event and spent a lot of time applauding at how the students did with pulling it all together. I had some really great conversations that are connecting us and the community in the right way. I don’t think it can be overstated how important an event like this is to bolster community awareness, support and collaboration.”
After the event, Karley expressed how “It was an incredible feeling seeing months of work go from paper to real life in the most magical way. It is not often that you have 100 charities in one space, and the Friendraiser was a true representation of the heart in our community and the immense impact that can be made when come together to use our time, talents, and treasures.”
Although this was the second annual rendition of the Friendraiser, Armaan was experiencing the planning, prepping, and execution of it for the first time. As the Events Coordinator, he expressed that “The Friendraiser was a truly magical event that sparked meaningful connections between charities and donors. The energy in the room was unforgettable and I am very grateful to have been apart of such an amazing and impactful event.”
Here at the Community Foundation, we would like to also extend our thanks to all of our sponsors for their role in making this event possible. Huge thank you goes to our Tree Grove Sponsor PH&N Institutional, our Sapling Sponsors Casino Regina, Virtus Group, The Corner Office, Sun Life Financial — Douglas Stroud, Affinity Credit Union, Impact Printers, DCG Philanthropic Services Inc., Miller Thomson, our Sprout Sponsors Capital Auto Mall, CIBC Private Wealth, and our Seed Sponsors Moments by My Photography, Courageous Leaders Project.
Aside from our sponsors, we would also like to take a moment to thank everyone else that made it possible to have such a successful event. The communication and cooperation from local suppliers and individuals who provided appetizers, beverages, musical entertainment, decorations, beading, photography opportunities, volunteers, and venue space was truly appreciated.
There was a wide variety of charities that displayed their work during this event. These ranged from those that provide community support towards focus areas like housing, food security, mental health, music, sports, education of the arts, and the environment. Throughout this event, charities had wonderful opportunities to share their stories and the work they do with over 400 guests and friends who attended. Jeff Dudar, CEO of Street Culture Project, highlighted that “The South Saskatchewan Community Foundation’s 2024 Friendraiser was a fantastic event. From the moment we entered the Conexus Arts Centre, we were greeted with smiles and taken care of. The Friendraiser afforded the opportunity for intentional and meaningful engagement. For me, it collapsed a year of ‘need to meet yous’ into three hours. And, as a bonus, the food and snacks were delicious and the cascading twinkle lights, very nifty.”.
The guests were able to hear success stories, learn more about the fantastic work being done right at home, and how their philanthropic gifts have created lasting legacies within their communities over the years. As a Community Foundation, we exist to connect donors and charities, and so we were overjoyed with the turn out of this event, how many conversations were had, and how new relationships blossomed. After the event, Emily Bocking, Founder of Brazen Fundraising, shared her experience of the second annual Friendraiser with us by stating “That was honestly the best event I’ve attended in years, and was the best event by a community foundation I’ve ever experienced. You very much opened my eyes to what a community foundation should be, and the important role that you fulfill for our sector. Thank you!“.
August 22, 2024 was an afternoon filled with conversation, relationship building, and collaboration. Just as it was an opportunity for donors to learn more about the charities and their work, it was also an opportunity for charities to speak with one another. Bula Ghosh, the Board Chair at the Community Foundation, expressed the importance of this by expressing that “The Friendraiser was a wonderful venue to bring many Saskatchewan community organizations together for the purpose of learning from each other, networking with each other and building relationships or partnerships with each other.“.
This event was well received by many, and has proven to be an excellent way to bring awareness towards the emerging needs within our community, recognize the charities that are working hard to address these needs, to allow guests and donors the opportunity to learn more about the impact that has already been made, and how there is room to continue these legacies. Everyone here at the Community Foundation is humbled by how many within the community came together to learn more about what is happening in their own communities, and Executive Director Donna Ziegler captured this sentiment perfectly, “The Friendraiser is a significant opportunity to bring the community together, showcase the charities and the good work they are doing right across Saskatchewan. It provides the community with a chance to learn about the impact and how their generosity can bring hope and inspiration for a better future.”.“