Following the 17th annual Lloydminster Region Health Foundation Gala, the LRHF is on their way towards meeting their goal of a million dollar endowment for Project Sunrise, a new mental health initiative.
What is "Project Sunrise"? Check out our priority project video from last nights fundraiser gala! #HealthGala2017 https://t.co/IsAfglAaI6
— Lloydminster Region Health Foundation (@LloydRHF) October 22, 2017
While specifics on Project Sunrise aren’t available yet, incoming CEO Malcolm Radke says mental health is top of mind for the LRHF.
“Our Lloyd Needs survey initial results have been showing us eight in 10 people know somebody very close to them, either a close family member or a friend who suffers from mental health issues or even themselves suffer from it. It’s a very pressing issue. I think it’s one of those under current things that’s happening behind the scenes in Lloydminster that needs to be addressed and that’s where we come in.”
He goes on to say, “if you look around that gala room, you could assume three quarters of every table, somebody is going to know somebody there with mental health issues and I think that showed in the dollars raised.”
Radke describes the event as a “home-run.”
“The place was absolutely packed, we were completely sold out. [We] Couldn’t even do anyone any favors and squeeze anybody in. The silent auction tables were full, wall-to-wall.”
The musical act Brett Kissel also did a bit more than just perform, coming in with a last minute auction item of a trip to Nashville.
“There was actually three trips that went out for $24,000 each. Just like that, Brett Kissel in a matter of 10 minutes raised $72,000 for the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation,” says Radke.
Here's @BrettKissel working the crowd for a $24K trip to Nashville. Then it gets matched! TWICE! Boom. 72K for @LloydRHF pic.twitter.com/9Nwyk2f2ec
— Malcolm (@MalcolmLV5) October 21, 2017