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Meet YANA Big Love WestJet raffle winner Lana!
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What a magical winning moment!
Lana was in the house at the Florence Filberg Centre on Friday night at the 2019 Big Love Event when the winning name…HER name was called (note: winner did not need to be in attendance). And that was just the beginning, because this story is going to give you the feels!
In tears with the surprise of winning and all of the emotions of the night, Lana came to the edge of the stage to claim her prize. She asked to have the mic.
Nearly 400 event attendees and volunteers had just been introduced to an incredibly special YANA family through Karen McKinnon’s photo presentation. Touched by their story of challenge and resilience, Lana decided to pay it forward big BIG time. She announced that she wanted to donate the 2 Westjet tickets to little Kayden and Karris’s family! Lana multiplied this gift by adding in a stay at her family’s condo in Mexico. YANA board member Ashley joined the avalanche of generosity and offered to donate the additional 2 flights needed for the family of 4 to travel together if they could.
This story truly shows the profound feelings and actions of the night, and this community’s unbelievable support for YANA.
Congratulations Lana and thank you for creating a beautiful circle of giving!
And, of course, thank you to each and every volunteer who sold raffle tickets for us, and everyone who purchased a ticket!!
Photo credit: Ali Roddam
Big Love WestJet Raffle Tickets on Sale Now
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Show your support for children and families in the Comox Valley by purchasing a YANA Big Love WestJet Raffle ticket!
Click HERE to request tickets and a YANA volunteer will contact you to fulfill your order. Winning ticket will be drawn at the Big Love Benefit Event. *Winner does not need to be present at the draw on Feb 22, 2019.
Online Auction Bidding Starts January 22
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From Jan 22 (9am) to February 8 (9pm), the whole community can participate in Big Love through the YANA Online Auction. The online auction includes 4 pairs of coveted tickets to the sold out Big Love Gala night! Now everyone can see our community’s generosity, find cool stuff and be part of the BIG LOVE needed to support local families. Get started with the quick registration so you’re ready to place your first bid on January 22nd. Thank you for supporting YANA Big Love!
Find the online auction here: https://charityauction.bid/YANABIGLOVEONLINE
YANA Big Love Benefit set for Feb. 22
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Originally published by Comox Valley Record – January 15, 2019
YANA Big Love Benefit
Interested in attending the Big Love Benefit? Tickets go on sale Sunday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. and are sold online only through YANA Tickit Store. Tickets sell in a matter of minutes. Mark your calendars, set your alarms and join YANA for this upcoming event
On Friday, Feb. 22, a sold-out Florence Filberg Centre will be filled with guests ready to enjoy camaraderie, cuisine and lively bidding on hundreds of generously donated auction items. Among the highlights of this philanthropic evening will be a live auction led by the incomparable auctioneer, Dave Stevens and a delicious dinner provided by Tria Fine Catering. A moving photographic presentation showcasing a YANA family through the lens of photographer Karen McKinnon will round out the evening.
“So many emotions fill that room,” said community relations co-ordinator, Deanne McRae. “It’s a night like no other. It makes you beam with community pride at the level of kindness and caring that shows up.”
Since its inception in 1986, YANA has seen an ever-increasing need for the funding and accommodation assistance founder Sandra Williams envisioned. When she vowed that no Comox Valley family should ever be alone when dealing with the medical needs of their children and pregnant mothers, she likely never imagined how far-reaching YANA’s support for out of town travel would become.
“The increases YANA has seen in the past few years have been dramatic,” said executive director, Kelly Barnie. “We are now helping over 75 per cent more families than just five years ago.”
The Big Love Benefit is YANA’s largest annual fundraiser, netting well over $100,000 each year. The tickets typically sell out online in mere minutes, filling every seat in the house. With the physical capacity for the event unable to change, YANA has continued to search for ways to expand support for the event. The 2019 event will see an online auction component again, this year including the opportunity to bid on four pairs of the coveted Big Love event tickets. In addition, YANA’s board directors, volunteers and staff will be selling raffle tickets in the weeks leading up to the event for a roundtrip WestJet flight for two.
“We’re just so appreciative of the astounding support from our Big Love sponsors, donors and attendees at the event,” said Barnie. “The ability to reach the entire community through the online auction and WestJet raffle will help us to make sure our resources will keep pace with the need.”
YANA’s purpose is to improve access to healthcare by providing travel funding and accommodation for any Comox Valley family with a child or a pregnant mother needing medical care away from home. YANA maintains four furnished apartments near BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver and also provides accommodation in Victoria, Nanaimo, and in other treatment locations.
“When a family finds themselves needing our financial, logistical and emotional support, the value it provides them is priceless,” said McRae. “Many times a beautiful circle of giving is created. When a YANA family shares awareness of our services with others, they help make new connections with people who may want to volunteer, donate or fundraise in their honour. YANA is a real community.”
There are many ways to get involved in the YANA Big Love Benefit. You can donate an auction item, become a sponsor, purchase a WestJet raffle ticket or bid in the online auction from January 22nd to February 2nd. For more information on all these opportunities, visit www.yanacomoxvalley.com, email events@yanacomoxvalley.com or call 250-871-0343.
Christmas Crackers on sale NOW!
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Thank you so much to the many volunteers who came together to make our YANA Christmas Crackers! They are available for $3.00 each throughout the Comox Valley. Click here to find out where you can get yours.
2018 Men’s Tillicum Open Tournament dates back to 1933. Fun fact, it is one of the oldest golf tourneys in the country! A big ‘shout out’ to all the guys behind this long running tourney. We are thrilled that you turned to YANA to start a new fundraiser component to the tournament. We are as happy as a hole in one!
A trifecta of awesome is what happens when you put three groups together who care for YANA and challenge one another to fund raise during a home project! So happy to share this collaborative effort from Comox Valley Curb Appeal Ltd., and the generous homeowners Duane & Janet from IG Private Wealth Gee, Gibson & Associates and the top up from the Investors Group Community Engagement program. Your yard rocks and so does the cheque for YANA!
Gladstone Brewery, Royston Nano Brewery and all of the Vancouver Island Cascadia Liquor Stores who were the outlet for the Love Potion NEVI IPA for YANA, ‘Thank you, thank you thank you!’ It’s not just beer, it’s love. The Love Potion NEVI IPA was released and quickly sold out resulting in big dollars being raised for YANA and BC Children’s Hospital from this collaboration.
Thank you The Old House Hotel & Oh Spa staff from the bottom of our hearts! On behalf of our local families and pregnant mamas, we are so grateful for this yearly SUCCESS committee fundraiser. So much love your way ladies and gents!!!! It’s such a fun work initiative to have the option to wear denim or fun theme clothes on Fridays. We hope you inspire other work places to do the same!
Courtenay and Comox Return It Centers are such an easy, non-conventional way to give back to YANA. Donate your cans, bottles, and recycling and say you want it to go on YANA’s account. The value can really surprise you when you take it in! We were thrilled the last time we checked in!
