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Hip, Hip, Hooray! No matter the team you cheered for, this was a HUGE win for YANA! Thank you to Jerry S., Brian W., and Kim PF for their donations in honor of the NFL Superbowl! We hope your team won and you were able to celebrate the night away. If not, better luck next year!
Warm thanks to everyone at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church for choosing YANA as their monthly charity of choice! We appreciate and recognize how many wonderful people are deserving of your monthly support. Thank YOU!
Major thanks to everyone who donated their recyclables to the Comox Return It Centre! “Recycling turns things into other things. Which is magic!” We appreciate everyone who takes the time to donate their recyclables to YANA!
Big Love Benefit Online Silent Auction is ON and Hot New Contests are LIVE!
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The highly anticipated YANA Big Love Benefit fundraiser has officially commenced, with the Online Silent Auction open NOW!
Join the fun by purchasing a Livestream Ticket. That ticket gives you access links to:
- The massive online silent auction
- The livestream of the full gala event on February 24th!
That’s right; one ticket gives you virtual access to Comox Valley’s biggest charity night of the year and the spectacular online auction! Get ready to browse and bid on over 300 items and packages valued at an impressive $80,000! From lavish luxury packages to stunning local artwork, charming home and garden essentials to delicious restaurant gift certificates, there’s truly something for everyone!
CONTEST ALERT!
There is also a new twist at this year’s Big Love Benefit for Livestream ticketholders ONLY! Join or host a Livestream viewing party on February 24th with at least four registered auction attendees and snap a group selfie. Post the selfie on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #YANABigLove to enter for a chance to win a Front of the Line Pass to purchase up to eight tickets for the 2024 in-person gala event!
And that’s not all! Every registered auction participant who places a bid from now until February 24th is entered in the “Bidders’ Bonus” contest. The winner will receive a breathtaking 30-minute flightseeing or charter flight from BC Air for up to three people. Experience the beauty of Vancouver Island like never before!
Secure your tickets now by making a donation of any amount at http://yana.tickit.ca!
Thank you Kathleen B. for your recent donation in honour of your neighbours family! It is so nice to hear and be apart of your story! Huge hugs to you!
Thank you to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 GAMING for their very generous donation! Your kind words of appreciation are something we deeply appreciate! Without the community support you provide we couldn’t keep doing what we do!
A very gracious thank you to the team at Swift Datoo LLP for their recent donation! Having businesses such as yours stand behind us is nothing short of amazing. We appreciate what you do for our community!
YANA Big Love Gala sells out in seconds; livestream option available
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Originally published by the Comox Valley Record – Jan. 28, 2023
YANA is excited to host the upcoming Big Love Benefit Gala, to be held on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Florence Filberg Centre.
This community event will bring together supporters of YANA families, in person and online, to celebrate and show their support.
This year’s gala promises to be a night of entertainment, great food, and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the local families YANA supports. The event will be livestreamed for those who missed the ticket sales or wish to attend virtually. Tickets went on sale on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. and were sold out almost immediately, prompting questions from prospective ticket buyers as to whether there was a glitch in the system.
“We started getting messages right away,” said YANA executive director, Kelly Barnie. “Our YANA website crashed momentarily from the traffic, and a few tickets were released from carts, and purchased by others still in the cue. We posted the official notice at 10:39 a.m. that all 336 seats were sold out. It was definitely exciting!”
YANA is actively working on connecting people on the waitlist with people who have extra tickets available.
“All the adjustments we were forced to make over the last two years now have made it possible for everyone who wants to be a part of YANA’s Big Love Benefit to join the fun,” said Barnie.
The 350 attendees and volunteers at the event in person will be joined by countless more YANA supporters, as the event will be livestreamed from the Signature Venue at the Filberg Centre. Livestream tickets are by donation and include access to the massive online auction from Feb. 14-24, and virtual access to the full gala event on Feb. 24, featuring Karen McKinnon’s feature presentation, prize draws, extraordinary live auction, and more!
“Everyone who makes a donation for their livestream ticket receives a tax donation for the full amount,” said Barnie. “We have seen donations of $10 and donations of $1,000 for these tickets. Some people will be viewing alone comfy in their PJs, and some will be creating a lavish at-home gala. We love that they can make a night that suits them best.”
In addition to the in-person event, livestream and auction, people can also help the fundraising total by purchasing 50/50 and WestJet raffle tickets online.
“These are a chance to win, but a guarantee of extra support for YANA families,” said Kelly Barnie.
New this year for those attending the event virtually, there are two more exciting chances to win. Anyone hosting or attending a livestream viewing party on Feb. 24 can get entered to win “Pre-Sale Access” to purchase up to eight tickets to the 2024 in-person gala event.
To be eligible, the viewing party must include four or more people who are all registered to bid in the online auction, and at least one group selfie photo of the partygoers enjoying the livestream together must be posted on Facebook or Instagram with the #YANABigLove. Each partygoer can enter to win.
In addition, every person who registers in the online auction and places at least one bid will be entered to win a 30-minute flightseeing or charter flight from BC Air for up to three people to experience Vancouver Island like never before.
The team of staff and volunteers at YANA are looking forward to sharing the magic of this marquee event with an unlimited number of guests.
“We are so grateful to be in the incredible position that historically, our biggest ‘problem’ with the Big Love event is that it sells out too quickly.,” said Barnie. “There were always so many people who ended up being left out. The pandemic was far from fun for anyone, but the ability for more people to come together to raise funds to help Comox Valley families needing to travel to access medical care for their children and pregnant mothers is one outcome we are very grateful for.”
To purchase tickets and view event information, see https://www.yanacomoxvalley.com/yana-event/auction/.
We are incredibly grateful for the generous donation from the employees at the City of Courtenay during their 2022 Charitable Giving fundraiser! Your support will go a long way with the families that we support. Thank you for taking the time to organize this fundraising campaign and for giving back to your community. Your kindness is greatly appreciated!