Ian Litzenberger showed off his moves during Saturday's Swinging with the Stars event. (Submitted photo/Jenna Neufeld) 

By Nigel Maxwell

Events

Rising to the occasion: fundraiser collects over $200,000 for Hope’s Home

Nov 16, 2021 | 5:00 PM

An event held last weekend in Prince Albert proved that despite the challenges of COVID-19, the city’s generous spirit has not missed a step.

The Swinging With the Stars event raised close to $200,000 for Hope’s Home. Provincial Fundraising manager Mickey MacGillivray confessed to paNOW she was not surprised by the outpouring of support.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Hope’s Home or the hospital foundation, I am not even blown away anymore by the generosity of this community,” she said.

When it opened in 2013, the Hope’s Home location in Prince Albert was only the second daycare of its kind in all of Canada with the other being in Regina. The facility is unique because it offers medical daycare for children who may have complex needs. The money raised from Friday’s fundraiser helps cover the costs of the four locations across the province. This includes both nursing and programing.

“We do have a huge wish list of things that our staff are wanting for the children in our care and we just keep pecking away at that list,” MacGillivray said.

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Last year’s inaugural fundraising event at Plaza 88, raised closer to $100,000, but the event this year was held at the Exhibition Centre, which could obviously accomodate more seats and over 500 tickets were sold.

Malcolm Jenkins provides some last minute advice to dancer Kienan Holash. (Submitted photo/Jenna Neufeld)

Reflecting back on Saturday night’s show, MacGillivray said it’s just fun to see people come out of their personal comfort zones and entertain.

Ian Litzenberger, Wine, Spirits and Beer manager at Lake Country Co-Op, was among this year’s celebrity dancers.

“Being involved with project triple play and [the world softball championship] it never doubted me that Prince Albert would step up to the plate again and help in that capacity,” he said.

In addition to helping the community, Litzenberger was also given the opportunity to be on stage with his 19-year-old daughter Makenna, who has 15 plus years of dancing experience. Litzenberger joked that through his years of taking his daughter to practice, he was able to pick up some of the basics.

“It was amazing. I got on stage and the music started playing and I wasn’t even nervous at all,” he said.

Shannon Parenteau and Kim Schick. (Submitted photo/Jenna Neufeld)

Shannon Parenteau, co-owner of Salon Mint, was also one of the celebrity dancers and said it was one of the best nights she’s ever had.

“I keep saying it was better than my wedding, ” she said. “I felt like a superstar and I’ve been on a high the last few days over it.”

In the final buildup to the event, Malcolm Jenkins offered to match the money raised by the dancers, which turned out to be $47,000. Therefore that total was doubled to $94,000.

And during the event, there was also an opportunity for audience members to bid on the celebrity dancers. Whoever bid on the dancer chosen as the judge’s choice, would take home half the pot. Kienan Holash received the honour and had collected $82,000; a joint bid made by Mitch Holash and Frank Dunn.

They then opted to donate the $41,000 back to the cause.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell