The Future Starts Here campaign is pleased to announce the Aaron Pritchett benefit concert for the Youth Resource Centre raised $23,000.
Invictus Entertainment Group, in partnership with 100.7 New Country, brought the country music singer to the Penticton Lakeside Resort on Nov. 23. JCI Penticton also hosted a silent auction at the event to supplement funds raised.
Related: Photos: Aaron Pritchett at the Penticton Lakeside Resort
“We are excited to announce that the benefit concert raised $23,000 and thanks to an anonymous donor that amount was immediately doubled to $46,000,” says Aaron McRann, executive director of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan | Similkameen (CFSOS), in a release. “The concert was a great success and wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our title sponsor Invictus Entertainment Group. It was Jim Cressman’s (CEO and president of Invictus) vision and guidance that helped make this event such a massive success.”
The youth centre is expected to open at 501 Main St. in the new year, with Foundry Penticton operating out of the location’s main floor. According to the release, over $750,000 of the $1.2 million goal to open the provinicially-funded youth and family intiative has been raised.
Amberlee Erdmann, YES Project Coordinator, added in the release that “it was truly incredible to see the community come together for this benefit concert and rally around youth in our community. It was our first year organizing this fundraiser so we learned a lot and know what we want to improve upon for next year. But, overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out.”
Related: Aaron Pritchett lending a helping hand to youth
“Donations, such as that received from the Benefit Concert, have been steadily coming in for the matching programing, which will match dollar for dollar, any donations received up until December 31st. The maximum total amount available for matching is $200,000, thanks to an anonymous donor who believes very strongly in the Foundry youth services model,” states the release. “The Community Foundation, the back-bone organization of The YES Project, will issue a charity tax receipt for the original donation amount and your gift to Penticton youth and their families will be doubled!”
“I can tell you from personal experience and by talking directly with youth, that every little bit will make a big difference. Youth need and deserve our supporting. Your gift, no matter how big or small, does matter. It shows youth that you care. That we care. Let’s show youth how much Penticton cares,” says Amberlee Erdmann, YES Project Coordinator.
Related: Video: Penticton students commit $20,000 to Youth Resource Centre
“I think its really important to acknowledge and thank Jim and all the other sponsors and donors, who have gotten us this far,” said McRann. “We have raised a tremendous amount of money, awareness and support for youth and families in our community. The Youth Centre is truly a community initiative that will benefit our youth for years to come. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the community. Thank you.”
Gifts of $5,000 or more will be recognized on the Foundry Penticton donor wall and have opportunities for naming rights. To learn more about the Youth Resource Centre and Foundry Penticton, visit www.cfso.net/penticton-youth-centre.
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
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