One million dollars raised
Community surpasses $1 million mark in funds raised through Conservation Dinner charitable gala auctions
South Huron Recreation Centre was full for 27th Conservation Dinner fundraiser in support of community projects such as accessible trails; park and conservation area improvements; commemorative woods; and nature education and recreation
People in the area have reached a milestone in fundraising for conservation projects in the community. The 27th Conservation Dinner took place on Thursday, April 14 at the South Huron Recreation Centre in Exeter. The Conservation Dinner Committee says the success of the 2016 event has helped the fundraiser surpass the mark of $1 million raised in net proceeds, by the community and for the community, over the 27-year history of the charitable auction.
Final fundraising results from the April 14 event are still being tallied but organizers say preliminary figures indicate results similar to last year’s record-setting net proceeds of more than $60,000.
It was a full house on Thursday. Those who attended were generous in their support of community projects through the live auction, silent auction, Super Silent Auction, General Raffles, and Special Raffles. The tradition of fine art continued. One of the evening’s live auction highlights was the feature art, an interpretive metal sculpture of Flying Geese, by feature artist Jim Dawe, of Murals in Metal. Other highlights included a Groceries for a Year package courtesy of Hansen’s Your Independent Grocer; a VIA Rail Canada round trip to Halifax, courtesy of VIA Rail Canada; original paintings; packages featuring sports and entertainment celebrities; and a number of other unique items and experiences.
Attendees at the April 14 event included Charles Corbett, the Conservation Dinner’s very first chairman from the inaugural dinner in 1990.
“It’s a fabulous event each year ... this year is our 27th year,” said Paul Anstett, Chair of the Conservation Dinner Committee, at the event. The crowd responded with applause. After 27 years of Conservation Dinners, “we are into a new generation of conservationists and individuals who love their community,” said Anstett.
The Conservation Dinner began in 1990. The Exeter Lions Club and the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation have been joint partners on the event since 1991 and net proceeds are split evenly between community conservation projects of the Foundation and the Exeter Lions Club. “It’s great to see another full house, it’s truly appreciated by all,” said Craig Hebert, First Vice President of the Exeter Lions Club. “The Exeter Lions Club thanks everyone for their continuing contributions and support.” He said co-hosting the event for 26 years is a “historic milestone” for the club. Proceeds from the event support parks such as MacNaughton Park and accessible trails including the MacNaughton-Morrison Section of the South Huron Trail and he noted that the trail recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. He thanked the people who started the trail and the crowd responded with spontaneous applause. He also noted that an annual family-friendly fishing derby is one of the events that takes place thanks to Conservation Dinner support. “The Exeter Lions Club and Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation contribute financially to stocking the Morrison Reservoir with rainbow trout for our annual fishing derby which is held the first Saturday of May for anglers young and young at heart,” he said.
The charitable event supports community improvements throughout the watershed such as accessible trails, parks and conservation areas, commemorative woods, and nature education and recreation opportunities.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation Chair Bob Radtke welcomed guests on behalf of the Conservation Foundation. “This will be a historic night for us as we will surpass the mark of $1 million raised in 27 years,” he said, to applause from the crowd. The Foundation chairman acknowledged the many contributions of the late Bob Norris, a Foundation director, former conservation authority director, and “a Conservation Dinner Committee member and friend” who recently passed away. “We extend our condolences to his family,” Radtke said.
The Conservation Dinner has been a year in the planning, according to Anstett, “and next month we will begin again.” The chairman of the Conservation Dinner Committee said “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining us tonight.”
Organizers say the success of this local charity event is possible because of the generosity of businesses and donors, patrons and guests, and artists and volunteers. For more information about the Conservation Dinner visit abca.on.ca or conservationdinner.com.