Scrabble® with the Stars Fundraiser (East Coast Style)
March 2007
PAL Halifax launched its first major fundraiser in March and it was a great success. Following the lead of the very successful Toronto event, Scrabble® with the Stars, PAL Halifax ‘branched’ out and created its own version - East Coast style!
As you are probably aware, we are continuing to work toward the acquisition of a building and so it was important for us not only to raise money, but also to raise awareness of what PAL means in our community. And so we did. Armed with a brand new logo and slogan, our small but mighty committee (Karine Renton, Tadas Khazanavicius, Luke Brown, Richard Hadley, Jean Morpurgo, Joann Griffin and myself) organized ourselves early last Fall and ventured forth into the world of fund raising.
The response was incredibly positive, opening their Maritime hearts and purses allowing us to boast a sold out event which raised three times the money we had initially hoped for!
The evening was held at Royal Artillery Park, a military officers’ mess in the heart of downtown Halifax. Our host, Jeremy Webb (actor, journalist, host and everyman) did a fabulous job of keeping things moving. Local celebs included: CBC radio hosts, Carmen Claussen, Costas Halavrazos, Peter Togni; CTV Breakfast TV host Jayson Baxter, singer/songwriters Susan Crowe, Raylene Rankin; actors Brian Downey, Hugh Thompson; former Lieutenant Governor Myra Freeman, playwright Wendy Lill, film producer Elizabeth Guildford, journalist Dan Legere and many others. Musical entertainment was ably provided by Lisa MacDougall.
The winner of our games (we had two timed games) was the astonishing Marilyn MacNeill who won a champagne cruise for four to scenic Peggy’s Cove, courtesy of actor John Dunsworth (Trailer Park Boys) along with a box full of Trailer Park DVDs and memorabilia. As well as donating the prize on board his own yacht, John, who considers himself an unbeatable Scrabble® player, challenged the winner to another game!
Marilyn MacNeil and her daughters on the Scrabble prize winning cruise and lunch with Trailer Park Boy’s own Mr. Lahey: John Dunsworth.
Our silent auction was chock-full of ‘artsy’ items, including some original artwork, a costume sketch by designer Robert Doyle of Measha Brueggergosman, a cornucopia of cultural events in the city worth $1400 and a personal consultation with Topiary Garden Store’s D’arcy Poultney, among other funky and original items and services.
Our live auction, courtesy of the generous and delightful Rick Mercer, not only made for some hilarious and dramatic entertainment in the intermission, but it also raised a tidy sum.
All in all Scrabble® with the Stars (Halifax) was a great deal of fun for all concerned. We thank all our sponsors, table sponsors, individual ticket buyers, donors and stars - who together made this event such a success.
Marcia Kash (Chair)
Tags: event, fundraiser, john dunsworth, scrabble