In the News
September 9, 2012 –
Andrea Allan pours a glass of Casa-Dea Wine at Sunday’s Fare for Friends garden party at the Vimy Officers’ Mess at Canadian Forces Base Kingston. (Elliot Ferguson/The Whig-Standard)
There’s no arguing with success.
In the 19 years it has been held, the Fare for Friends garden party has raised more than $1 million for the Kingston, Frontenac Lennox and Addington United Way.
This year, coming two days before the official launch of the United Way’s fundraising campaign, the annual event has become the high point of the campaign for many people.
“It’s everyone’s favourite event,” said KFLA United Way president and CEO Bhavana Varma.
This year’s event attracted more than 300 guests, who paid $150 each to taste food and wine prepared by local restaurants and Ontario wineries.
Eighty United Way volunteers helped keep the event running smoothly.
A live and silent auction also raised money.
While the garden party is geared more toward a fine dining, Varma said the bulk of campaign’s revenue — more than 80% — still comes from workplace fundraising.
At this year’s garden party there were 27 restaurants and 18 wineries taking part.
“When you really think about it, it’s the best deal in town for the money,” said Clark Day, who along with Joanne and Michele Langlois organized the original garden party in 1994 on his front lawn.
Day said when the United Way originally approached him an idea for a black tie formal fundraiser, he balked.
“Nobody likes black ties,” he said.
Instead, Day organized a casual buffet-style dinner party.
Day said part of what makes the event so special — Sunday’s was at the Vimy Officers’ Mess at Canadian Forces Base Kingston — is that the money raised goes to the United Way and is then spent on programs and services that benefit the local community.
Last year the KFLA United Way provided services to 85,000 people, including programs to address issues such as homelessness, poverty, independence for seniors and health and education for children.
The 2012 campaign kick-off breakfast is set for 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Ambassador Conference Resort on Princess Street.
Sourrce: Kingston Whig-Standard
elliot.ferguson@sunmedia.ca
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