Above: Anna (middle), a L’Arche member presents Eleanor Austin (left) with a thank you gift as the Honourable Graydon Nicholas (right) looks on at our fundraising event, Building Community. On Sept. 10, a sold-out crowd filled the Delta Hotel to rally behind our mission of making known the gifts of adults with intellectual disabilities, raising over $50,000 for L’Arche Saint John. The evening was capstoned with special remarks from the Honourable Graydon Nicholas, guided in conversation by Eleanor Austin.
“So much negativity in the world these days – so delightful to see humanity at its best.”
This was a line in an email I received from a supporter shortly after our Building Community fundraiser on Sept. 10.
With the world increasingly divided by fear, blame and hate, it’s more critical than ever that we seek out – and participate in – kindness, compassion, and generosity.
Or in Mr. Rogers’ words: look for the helpers.
This theme was on full display surrounding our Building Community fundraising event. For the fifth consecutive year, the Saint John community sold out the event with over 400 people in attendance, rallying around our mission of making known the gifts of adults with intellectual disabilities.
The generosity in the room was stunning, helping us raise over $50,000 for L’Arche Saint John. This includes a contribution of $12,500 to our Brighter Futures endowment fund held by the Greater Saint John Community Foundation, thanks to a matching donation of $5,000 from Steve & Gwen Belyea.
A central theme of the evening was celebration – celebrating our 20th anniversary year by honouring our roots and founders, celebrating how far we’ve come, and looking ahead to where we want to go. (In case you missed it, check out this video we debuted at the event that captures this spirit so well.)
So many people make this world a better place with people with disabilities, and each year we like to shine an extra spotlight on a few of them. After a nomination and selection process, we were delighted to celebrate the Honourable Brenda Murphy and Linda Boyle, and Stacey Howe with the Spirit of L’Arche Awards. You can read more about that here.
The Honourable Graydon Nicholas was our special guest, and shared some of his remarkable story in his signature humble, and humorous way. He spoke in a way that everyone in the room could resonate with – themes of family, spirituality, and even failure. The most consistent feedback from the event I’ve heard was how captivating he was, and how much longer we all could have listened to him speak. How lucky are we to learn from elders who embody leadership in mind, body and spirit.
Woven throughout the evening, in ways big and small, our core members with intellectual disabilities made the event shine. Our world is so much more colourful and whole when each person has the opportunity to share their gifts.
I walked out of the event filled with a volume of gratitude I hadn’t anticipated. Organizing an event like this takes a tremendous amount of time and effort from volunteers and staff alike. And of course, it would not be possible without our supporters and sponsors.
Whether you attended the event, donated a silent auction item, or are participating by simply reading this: thank you.
Let’s make the next twenty years just as memorable.
With gratitude,
Rachel Vander Vennen
Community Leader & Executive Director
P.S. You can view event photos at this link.