Although we are waiting on a couple of final numbers, it is safe to say that the charity hockey game fundraiser, the very first fundraiser ever for Umbrella, was a massive success!
Early numbers indicate we raised $35,000!!!
A HUGE thank you to Captain Brian Bell from the Langford Fire Department for jumping in with Umbrella to make this game happen! I talked to Brian more in the last 2 months than my own family.
A MAMMOTH thank you to the Greater Victoria Firefighters who pulled together a team, changed jerseys on the fly and had fun with the Canadien pranksters!
A BIG thank you to the Victoria Royals for their advice and being available to us. Devin and Robin, you helped us more than you know.
A GIGANTIC thank you to 100.3 The Q for being our media sponsor, and sending us Chris Loran to be on site for game day. He holds permanent hero status at Umbrella!
A MASSIVE thank you to Cliff Lequesne for his awesome announcing skills, to Al Ferraby for kicking off the game with the national anthem, (in both official languages!), to Mayor Stu Young and representatives from the fire departments for fundraising for Umbrella and presenting on game day, to Premiere John Horgan for attending and dropping the ceremonial puck to get the game started and to the honour guards who formally opened the pregame ceremony for us.
An ENORMOUS thank you to the committee who pulled this game together, Bronwyn, Evan, Blake, Luke, Keith, Alison, Tracey and myself. Thank you for giving your time and passion to making this event a success.
A COLOSSAL thank you to the volunteers on game day. They sold 50/50 and Chuck-A-Pucks until there were none left to sell. They helped the VIP’s get autographs, they helped with the silent auction items, they helped make young kids dreams come true when they skated with the Canadiens, they helped the mascots get jiggy, they helped set up and tear down, take pictures, blow up balloons, carry hockey equipment, and every other game day detail, and they represented Umbrella with class at this event.
A GENUINE thank you to our board, who took a chance on this charity hockey game fundraiser, they believed that we could, and we did. And, the board was present and volunteering all day Sunday, I am grateful for their continued support.
A TREMENDOUS thank you to the Montreal Canadiens Alumni for coming out to Victoria and raising funds for Umbrella. They were such great sports, there was lots of fun had as they pulled some on- ice pranks and they laughed at how scared of snow we are here! They were really a great bunch of guys and I have developed a crush on Patrice Brisbois <3
And, last but definitely not least, A GARGANTUAN thank you to the Victoria Grizzlies staff for all their support, guidance and their partnership in this endeavour. This collaboration was so amazing we are planning to do it again next year! Stay tuned!!!
To our community:
Thank you to all who donated silent auction items, who attended the game despite the snowfall warning, and who support Umbrella everyday.
Events like this remind me how lucky we are to have the support we do.
Gratefully,
Sharlene
Executive Director