The annual Diamond Dinner and auction raised more than $21,000 to be shared equally by the Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre and the Women’s Contact Society.
“We had a sold-out event,” says Irene Willsie, Women’s Contact Society executive director in reporting the total.
The event was held at the Signal Point Event Centre on Saturday, Oct. 25. Signal Point donated the dinner for this 10th anniversary.
Some auction items included a trip to Mexico, a three-day fishing trip, a visit to Harrison Hot Springs.
For the past 10 years event organizers have purchased a Canadian-cut diamond from Woodland Jewellers to raffle at the event which comes with a setting of the winner’s choice donated by Woodlands and designed by jeweller Geoff Bourdon.
Mae Getz was this year’s winner of the diamond ring that was presented by Cindy Woodland.
The Women’s Contact Society will use its share of funds to support the Good Food Box program, and the Child Development Centre will use the funds for the new Cariboo Autism Center opening in 2015, Willsie says.
The next Good Food Box distribution days are Nov. 17 and Dec. 15. For information contact Carmen Kallman at 250-392-4118. Registration for the program can also be made at the Canadian Mental Health Association and Pregnancy Outreach.
The Women’s Contact Society will hold its annual general meeting on Monday, Nov. 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Signal Point Event Centre.
People wishing to attend should indicate their intention to attend by calling the centre by Nov. 12 at 250-392-4118 or e-mail events@womenscontact.org.
Those who attend the annual meeting will learn more about the services offered to women and their families.
The film Stalled by Shannon Kohli and Be More Than a Bystander will be shown.
WCS will hold its Purple Ribbon Campaign Dec. 1 to 10 coinciding with the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women Dec. 6.
Noon hour resource and education workshops at the women’s centre will be on cold and flu Nov. 4 and on depression on Dec. 2
Maggie Ranger has been hired as the new facilitator/outreach worker at the Women’s Contact Centre.
“Having worked in the Williams Lake area and surrounding communities for 18 years has been a great learning experience and I am excited and looking forward to working with this agency,” Ranger says.