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The Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s popular fundraiser, the ‘Lobster Fest,’ set a new record last week. For the first time in its history, more than 500 people turned up for the $150 a ticket event held annually at the Château Royal. Guests feasted on lobster, took part in draws for prizes including a luxury car, then partied the night away to dance music.
Projects funded
A total of $54,100 was raised through the event ― this year called ‘Lobster Tales’ ― for programs and projects to benefit schools and learning centres operated by the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board. The money will help pay for the costs of two of the board’s latest projects ― the career exploration laboratory just launched at the Laurier Competency Development Centre in Laval’s Pont Viau district, as well as a citizenship bursary program for students graduating from the board’s schools and centres.
It shouldn’t be much of a surprise by now if the Lobster Fest is the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation’s most popular fundraising event. For a lobster lover, it can only described as heavenly. Hot and cold lobster, all you could eat, whole and half-shell, was served from a self-serve buffet. There was roast beef for those with a taste for meat and lots of dessert afterwards.
Chair praises Bletas
In one of the evenings key speeches, François Ghali, chairman of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Foundation, praised Bletas for his innovation, the hard work he’s being doing for the SWLSB, and the results Bletas has achieved. “Most people say this is a proven idea, let’s go for it,” Ghali said.
“But true leaders say this is a new idea, let’s go for it, it should be better. These leaders (challenge) our communities to a tremendous leap forward. For to be a leader it takes creativity and it takes courage. In that sense, Mr. Bletas is a true leader. He’s not a person intimidated by the risk of failure.
Courage and leadership
“He has courage, determination and above all leadership that is ― as I understood it finally ― the capacity to achieve success by, through and with the people,” continued Ghali. “And since this fine gentleman has started this foundation, I’m proud to say tonight, and I’m sure that your share that feeling, that we have a man who contributes a great deal to the progress and to the successes that are being achieved by the foundation.”
Among the many prizes placed under chairs were $20 gift certificates from Barbie’s Bar and Grill, and movie passes to Cinémas Guzzo, donated by the Laval News and North Shore News. As the evening wore on, a MacPro laptop computer and and iPod Touch were raffled off. The evening’s top prize, a 2009 Volvo S60 worth nearly $41,000 and on display in the banquet hall lobby, was won by Joey Musumeci.
Odds increased
The Volvo, which was one of 10 top prizes worth a total $61,000, was part of a fundraising lottery the foundation launched last January, for which only 1,315 tickets were printed. At that time, the odds of winning one of the prizes was one in 132. Until the evening of June 11, when the Lobster Fest took place, only 780 tickets had been sold at $100 each.
As a result, the odds became one in 78. Among the lucky winnners was Senator Leo Housakos, who won a gift certificate worth $3,000 from a travel agency. Also among the prizes was a Tag Heuer man’s watch valued at $5,700, a woman’s watch of the same brand worth $2,900, and a plasma TV worth $2,500. Laurent Caron, director-general of the Caisse Desjardins de Chomedey, assisted with the drawing of the last five prizes.
Winners’ claims
None of the prizes could be claimed the night of the drawing. The lottery was conducted under the supervision of chartered accountants Brunet, Roy, Dubé. Officials with the foundation said they would be phoning and sending each of the winners an official letter confirming they are the prize winners. All prizes, except the Volvo, can be claimed at the school board’s offices in Rosemere. The foundation will be holding its other very successful fundraising event, the wintertime gala, in the new year on Thursday Jan. 14.
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