The Bearspaw Community First Society’s (CFS) fifth bi-annual dinner, golf tournament, and fundraiser came together in a major way this June for the East Kootenay. The event brought in citizens and celebrities from far and wide to raise $455,000 for East Kootenay charities.
The funds are being split between two charities; $305,000 will go towards the East Kootenay Foundation for Health’s Warm Embrace Campaign to bring a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to East Kootenay Regional Hospital and $150,000 will support the Elk Valley Women’s Task Force Society.
New to this year’s fundraiser was the Night For NICU concert. A Night for NICU survived June’s Elk Valley rain showers and windstorms to light up the stage at the Demolition Derby Grounds in Fernie with stars.
Kim Bauer, Elk Valley Woman’s Task Force Society, is presented with $150,000
The concert gathered some of Canada’s Top Country Music stars including Aaron Pritchett, Jason Blaine, Chad Brownlee, Kelly Prescott, Meghan Patrick, Jojo Mason, and Dallas Smith to help keep families across the East Kootenay from experiencing long and stressful NICU stays across the province.
EKFH have several thanks yous for the event. First, thank you Ian Benson and his team at Bearspaw for choosing us as a beneficiary of this incredible fundraiser and for all the hard work they put into the three-day event of fundraising.
Second, thank you Billie Jo Aasen and her team from The Festival Company. Without their vision and dedication to bring a NICU to the East Kootenay, a Night for NICU wouldn’t have happened! Third, a BIG thank you to all the artists who donated their time to come out and play at the Night for NICU.
It was truly a night to remember! Finally, thank you to all the amazing sponsors and volunteers who stepped up to make all this night possible. Because of all of you, we are so close to our $1.8 million goal to make a NICU in the East Kootenay a reality very soon!
Lead image: Ian Benson President of Bearspaw Group of Companies and head honcho of Community First Society and John Bower GM of Bearspaw Contracting present $305,000 to Brenna Baker, Executive Director, EKFH.
