The Hope 4MVC Kids Society, which raises money to help families cover medical costs and associated expenses, has raised a record $19,450.99.
Of that figure, $17,950.99 was raised in one night, during the society's Raise The Roof charity dinner and dance at the Willow Lane Barn, east of Olds on Nov. 24. The total also includes a cheque from Telus for $1,500 authorized Nov. 23.
"In that six-and-a-half hours we did the fundraising that's how much we raised, so it's pretty incredible. People are so generous," founder Lisa Nicholson said.
The event included a supper and dance as well as live and silent auctions.
"This will go a long way to help us to continue to support local families with children in medical need," Nicholson said.
"I got pretty emotional last night actually when we tallied everything up because that means so much to families," she added. "And that means we can obviously continue to do the work we've been doing in the community. It makes me very happy."
One of Nicholson's daughters has a chronic medical condition that required lengthy hospitalizations, medical intervention and support. Another daughter has non-verbal low functioning autism and global development delay.
Nicholson founded the Hope 4 MVC Kids Society with the help of a friend in November 2013 when her family couldn't obtain the financial assistance they needed to help her daughters and when she and they discovered there were many more families struggling in that way as well.
Nicholson said its first fundraiser raised $17,000. The second one raised $10,000 and the third, via Spring Fling, raised $17,000.
"So this was actually just over our biggest yet, which is awesome. We're very, very happy with that," she said.
Nicholson said 100 per cent of every dollar raised goes to support families who need help to cover costs for their children's medical needs.
She said administrative costs like insurance and paperwork are funded via grants, including an operating grant from Mountain View County.
"None of us get paid for the hours that we put in — we're all volunteers," Nicholson said.
Nicholson said it's too early to know if the society will hold another fundraiser at the Willow Lane Barn. That's up to the board, which will meet in January.
But the event was so successful the organization just might hold a fundraiser there again.
"Usually we only have a big fundraiser every second year, just so that we can be respectful of local business and things like that. But we had such a good feedback from that event," she said.
"Everybody loves the venue and the food and so we may build from that momentum, but I can't make that decision without having board approval."
Nicholson expressed her gratitude to all those who helped make the Raise The Roof fundraiser such a success.
