The Big Gala is geared as a fundraiser for little people in the community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George is holding a gala fundraising event Saturday, April 9 at the Hart Community Centre featuring a Hollywood-themed red carpet walk into the venue to a champagne reception, dinner, entertainment and a shuttle available for a safe ride home with all proceeds going directly to local mentoring programs.
Cedar plank salmon and roast beef are two options offered during the dining experience while there's dancing after dinner and live and silent auctions with items up for grabs like a start-your-wine-collection package, airfare to and accommodations in Victoria and activities in Jasper for the adventurous like horseback riding and white water rafting.
"The main goal is to raise funds so we can get more children paired up with mentors," said
Cassie Lobban, operations and events assistant at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George (BBBS).
Right now, there are six little sisters and 16 little brothers who are waiting to be matched in the regular mentoring program. There are several options for mentoring including in-school mentoring and there's more development going on for the group mentoring programs. Team Up for boys and girls, is held at Van Bien elementary, and Game On for boys is a BBBS Clubhouse program.
Each emphasizes physical fitness, health and body image as part of the programs where a few bigs come together with several littles for some fun sporting activities like capture the flag and Nerf blaster battles.
There's a brand new program to help girls from 14 to 17 years through those tricky teen years called Strong Youth, Fearless Women, where the group will do yoga and fitness training at the gym, journaling and art projects, spa nights and talk about healthy relationship building.
"We're really in a state of growth right now which means we're in the state of hard core fundraising," laughed Lobban.
"We're trying to raise as much money as possible to get the children who are waiting for mentors matched up. It is a struggle to recruit men to be big brothers and that's something we'd really like to change."
All it takes is an hour a week to be a big brother or big sister, added Lobban.
"I think there's a myth out there that you'd have to change your life in order to do this program and that's really not the case," said Lobban. "You're spending about an hour a week doing activities that you already like to do. We pair big brothers and big sisters with littles that like the same things. We want to make sure we match those that have similar passions in life and have similar personalities so they get along great."
BBBS of PG asks a minimum year-long commitment but many matches continue for longer, added Lobban.
Littles are 14 and under and bigs are 19 and older.
Tickets for the Big Gala are $65 each or $600 for a table for 10 at the BBBS office, 777 Kinsmen Place, Books & Co, 1685 Third Ave. or call the office.
Doors for the event open at 6 and dinner is at 7 p.m. with all the other fun to follow.
For more information go online to: www.bbbspg.ca or call the office at 250-563-7410.
