When the Vancouver based charity, The Giving Closet, envisioned hosting its first dinner fundraiser, it found an innovative partner in a career training class at the International Air and Hospitality Academy’s Hotel, Restaurant and Event Management program.
The nine-month class that began its coursework last fall adopted The Giving Closet and its fundraiser as a group project. Students envisioned a multi-course affair for 120 guests with support of the Northwest Culinary School and chef J.D. Thomas, along with entertainment, and silent and live auctions. With no seed capital, the class held bake sales and served homemade pork sliders for lunch to Academy staff and students. Each student took on responsibilities, including decor, planning and marketing.
The result: A sold-out event that generated nearly $38,000 for the charity, including a surprise matching gift of $5,000 by an anonymous donor. Proceeds from the fundraiser provided a substantial boost for The Giving Closet, which provides free clothing, food and education for area citizens and has touched the lives of more than 14,000 people in its 12-year history. The Giving Closet is open Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for clothing at 2804 B. NE 65th Avenue in Vancouver, and offers its adult G.E.D. training, life skills classes and after-school child tutoring on various days of the week. The Giving Closet had an operating budget of nearly $100,000 last year.
More information is available at www.givingclosetgivinghope.org
posted by Anna Nguyen
03/21/2013
