Nearly $32K raised for a new wheelchair accessible bus for OFRA

NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO FINNISH RESTHOME ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION
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The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association and Foundation were once again overjoyed and touched by the generosity from the community, and sponsors in support of the 4th Annual Harvest Fest Draw and Event held on Sept. 6, 2019 at the Machine Shop.

This year OFRA and the Foundation took a different route for the prize packages and included three cash prizes and two luxury trips. All of the money raised through the lottery efforts will be used to purchase a new wheelchair accessible bus for all the residents of OFRA. The ticket sales started June 7, 2019 and concluded on Sept. 6, 2019 moments before the draw. Almost 140 local businesses, volunteers and staff members, worked endlessly, volunteering their time to help sell the Harvest Fest Draw tickets. Ticket sales brought in a net total of almost $32,000!

An additional $2,400 was raised from our 50/50 and Penny Raffle at the event. OFRA and the Foundation weren’t the only ones overjoyed that evening, the five prize winners couldn’t believe it when they heard the news.

To conclude the Harvest Fest Draw the winners are:

• Cash Prize 1: $2,000 Winner: Sean Cook – Ticket #0587
• Cash Prize 2: $4,000 Winner: Jean-Guy Bourgault – Ticket #0469
• Cash Prize 3: $6,000 Winner: John & Crystal Spina – Ticket #1405
• Secondary Prize: Sandals Royal Bahamian or $7,200 Travel Voucher Winner: Tony & Sue Colizza - Ticket #3435
• Grand Prize: Avalon Waterways River Cruise or $10,000 Travel Voucher Winner: Rhonda & Ken McMillan – Ticket #3739

The 4th Annual Harvest Fest Event was just as successful! The money raised through this year’s event will go towards our capital campaign for the New Long-Term Care Redevelopment Project to meet the growing needs of our residents and the community. We would like to thank our generous sponsors. Our Gold Sponsors consisted of SalDan General Contractors Ltd. and Acclaim Ability Management Inc. & Maximus Rose. Our Silver Sponsors were Sault Chiropody Clinic, North Star Travel and Tour, and AK Graphix.

The event itself brought in over $18,000, which included sponsorship, dinner tickets, live and silent auctions, the marketplace and in-kind donations. The donation of all our prizes, goods and services as well as the marketplace items were phenomenal. A special thank you to OFRA’s Ladies Auxiliary for preparing delicious treats for the marketplace.

The final overall net total of all cash and in-kind donations and the draws were valued at almost $11,600. The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association and Foundation would like to thank the generous residents and businesses of Sault Ste. Marie and area for your ongoing support. Every day you donate prizes, you purchase tickets and you continue to make numerous donations that help to maintain the highest level of care for our residents. Again, Thank you from the Homes with a Heart!

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