The Comox Valley community came together once again at the YANA 2015 Annual Dinner and Auction and raised a record breaking $70,200 for You Are Not Alone.
A total of 332 guests attended on Feb. 27 for YANA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Tickets went fast, selling out online in January, in five minutes.
The evening featured dinner by Tria Fine Catering, a silent auction, a live auction with auctioneer Dave Stevens, a photo presentation of a very special YANA family, by Karen McKinnon, and lots of fun for guests.
“We were thrilled with this year’s auction,” said executive director, Marcie Dumais. “The spirit of giving in the room was profound, you could just feel it.”
“And you get that feeling all through planning this event,” addedYANA president, Judy Cryer.
“The donors, local businesses and individuals that fill the hall with auction items, they all give with so much good will and generosity toward YANA. It’s really a remarkable testament to this community.”
Founded in 1986 by the late Sandra Williams, YANA provides direct funding and accommodation to Comox Valley families who must travel for the medical care of a child or pregnant mother.
Some special guests were able to make the evening even more heartwarming.
“Sandra’s son, Jason, and his family were able to come from Edmonton to be here,” said Dumais. “And they were joined by Sandra’s husband, Jim and their daughter, Roberta. Roberta’s sudden illness as a child and the family’s subsequent experience of spending months away from home during Roberta’s treatment compelled Sandra to create YANA so that other families were not alone during their out-of-town medical treatment.”
“We were also joined by Karena Crumpler, who is a regular attendee of the evening, this year her son, Owen, was featured in the photo presentation and it felt so perfect that she was with us,” Cryer adds.
YANA has served the Comox Valley for 28 years.
For more information visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com