Following a Saturday night that far exceeded the expectations of organizers of the first fundraiser for the future Cochrane women’s shelter, Big Hill Haven, co-founder and chair Margaret Van Tighem was left with few words to express the generosity of the community.
“It just snowballed … our goal was $20,000 to $25,000 (for the needs assessment) and it has more than doubled,” said Van Tighem, who confirmed the total fundraised amount had tipped $52,000 by press time.
She opened the evening with the announcement that thanks to the Totem Foundation’s $10,000 donation, the society has the amount to get the needs assessment done and everything else would go toward site acquisition, building and programming.
Emcee Jack Tennant, who has long advocated for women’s shelters, credits the impressive fundraised amount to a caring community.
“It’s a terrific reflection of our community,” said the retired former Cochrane Eagle publisher. “Organizers worked very hard to pull it off, but it was really about many people sharing their talents for a great evening and a much-needed facility.”
Guest speakers Monique Auffrey, executive director of Calgary’s Discovery House, and Cochranite and shelter co-founder Jacquie Coulas shared their personal stories of triumph over trauma – highlighting the need for shelter services in Cochrane.
The sell-out fundraiser, at $100 per plate drew a full house of nearly 150 people to the Links of GlenEagles. Attendees bid on live and silent auction items facilitated by popular auctioneer John Copithorne.
A few surprises delighted diners – including a $5,000 donation from Rob Cameron of the Cochrane Posse to the cause (leftover funds from the 2015 RCMP Musical Ride) and a group bid of $19,000 to purchase a painting of the grandfather tree at the Cochrane Ranche, painted by Janet Armstrong of Just ImaJan Art Gallery & Studios.
Cyndy Morin of Resolve Legal Group happened to be sitting at the same table as Armstrong, who indicated to her that she would be thrilled to see someone purchase the painting and donate it back to the shelter once built.
Morin, with a $2,000 budget to donate to the cause from her not-for-profit legal firm, thought she would have a go at the live auction bid.
“As the amount kept going up as a sole donor, my hands started to shake,” laughed the mother of three college-aged kids. This prompted her to put a call out to fellow bidders to pitch in cumulatively and donate the artwork to hang in the future shelter once built.
Nineteen thousand dollars later, her efforts proved successful.
“I was so pleased everybody banded together,” said Morin, who jumped on the cause because she has seen firsthand through her work in family law the need for such services in town.
All three mayoral candidates attended the event, as did several council candidates. Van Tighem said she was pleased to see candidates set aside campaign platforms to support the cause – only two days before the municipal election.
Van Tighem confirmed the next fundraiser for the Cochrane shelter will take place in Calgary in the spring.
Six local women developed the concept of Big Hill Haven last year – five of whom had personally experienced domestic abuse.
Big Hill Haven is a registered charity and will provide safe emergency housing for women and children for up to three weeks, connecting them with resources to get them into the next level of housing and support required.
Additional long-term goals include a 24-hour confidential crisis phone line; a legal advocacy program; individual and group supports; transition and outreach support programs; and emergency transportation.
Organizers hope to start building by next year. The needs assessment, which will dictate the particulars of the shelter, will begin immediately.
Visit bighillhaven.com to learn more.
