Interact Club raising funds for conference, foundation

The Olds Interact Club will be hosting a dinner fundraiser on Thursday to benefit two projects the club will be involved with over the next year.

Sneha Patel, one of the coordinators of the event, said fundraiser proceeds will be split between the Fontaine Foundation, which runs a program for street boys in Mozambique and a UNESCO conference the club is hosting in the first week of May at the Olds High School.

Patel said club members began organizing for the event at the beginning of February.

“Basically we just have to get everything together. We really all work together and we split up the jobs between our club members so someone will be in charge of the publicity and someone will (be in charge of) tickets,” she said.

“We're still looking for art donations from the community, so if anyone in the community has art they don't want … then they can drop it off at the (OHS) office,” Patel said.

The art will be part of a silent auction that will be taking place at the event. Art from OHS students will also be part of the event. Music from OHS students will also be featured during the evening.

All ingredients going into the dinner will be within 100 miles of Olds.

Patel said club members are hoping they get about 200 people out to the event, similar to last year's number. Last year's fundraiser took in $4,500 for Interact projects.

The club, which acts as a junior Rotary Club, has between 20 and 25 members. Patel said every member of the club was involved in some capacity in organizing the event

“It's one of our two major fundraisers so the club definitely comes together and we … know it's a big deal for us so everyone kind of steps up and takes part in it,” she said.

The event will be held in the commons area of OHS. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at the OHS office.