Inaugural charity police gala a smash hit
The Thunder Bay Police Service announced today that a total of $68,502.50 was raised for two local charities through the Thunder Bay Police Service Inaugural Charity Gala on February 28.
That money will be split evenly between the Thunder Bay chapters of the Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Club.
“People really enjoyed themselves,” said Police Chief Darcy Fleury. “It was a great way for community and police to come together and spend a night sharing some wonderful times and getting to know each other.”
The night began as a quiet gathering before officers arrived in full uniform to the sound of bagpipes. Dinner followed, keynote speakers took the stage, and the live band Throwback kept the celebration going all night.
“It was stunning,” said Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club CEO Albert Aiello. “As soon as you walked in, you knew the environment was special. The way it was decorated, the entertainment, everyone dressed to the nines. It’s something that the city’s been missing for a long time. We haven’t had a formal gala in quite a long time.”
Aiello says the funds will go towards nutrition and leadership development programs for kids here in Thunder Bay.
Live and silent fundraising auctions were held throughout the event. On the block were barbeques, fire pits, helicopter rides, local artworks and vacation packages.
“The sponsorship from this community was fantastic,” Fleury said. “It was just unbelievable, and it really helps us an awful lot.”
The gala attracted over 270 attendees and smashed the station’s fundraising goal of $40-50,000. Fleury says the station will host another gala next year and raise funds for different charities.
“We met about it this afternoon, and we do want to make this an annual event,” Fleury said. “The big thing about that is you can’t just do the same thing. We have to roll out something new, we have to try and find new ideas and make it bigger and better.”
