A grand display of the generosity and community took place this weekend with members of the community banding together to raise $22,350 for the Mendoza Family in Cochrane.
Despite a hard-fought battle against brain cancer, Lorilyn Mendoza is running out of time before she leaves her husband, Chris, alongside their three-year-old and seven-year-old sons.
In an effort to alleviate some of their financial burdens, Cochrane’s Filipino community and local leaders worked with Dan Kroffat to host a special fundraising initiative in the community.
It all led up to Feb. 17, where Giga’s Pinoy Carinderia and Cochrane’s Bubble Tea Brewers, hosted members of the community for a fundraising event to wrap-up the campaign.
Guests could visit Giga’s where they could make a donation in exchange for a meal, or purchase a boba from Bubble Tea Brewers with proceeds headed towards the Mendoza family.
With more than 300 meals and 100 bubble teas purchased between the two businesses, the campaign was nothing short of a success.
That afternoon, Kroffat shared a few words about the campaign, shortly before revealing the total amount raised by those in the community.
“What I am unveiling today is not what I did personally, it’s what this community did,” Kroffat said. “[…] it was a community driven initiative with people from all different walks of life.”
The event garnered support from Banff-Airdrie MP Blake Richards, who although could not attend, wrote a letter that congratulated the community for their sincere display of generosity and support for the Mendoza family.
“Your generosity and compassion towards the Mendoza family, are a testament to the strong ties that bind Cochrane, within the Filipino Community of course, where the strength of family bonds and resilience is the hallmark for which you all work so hard to achieve,” the letter read.
The event also saw deputy mayor, Susan Flowers, who came in attendance for Mayor Jeff Genung and shared a few words to congratulate everyone for their work.
Kroffat also took a moment to thank several community and business leaders including Ryan Baum, Martin Christenson, Barbara Primeau, Moniq and Mike Bautista, Garce Dayao, and the Giga family.
Upon the reveal of the total amount raised, Chris, despite not being fluent in English, gave a heartfelt thanks to all attendees for supporting his wife and children.
Elizabeth Giga, owner of Giga’s and close friend of Lorilyn said she really appreciates seeing what the community has done for the Mendoza family.
“This, what we are doing as a community will give her lots of strength to fight what she is experiencing right now,” Giga said.
Mike and Moniq Bautista of the Filipino Community Association of Cochrane Alberta, said they never expected to see this level of success brought forward by Kroffat and all members of the community.
“It’s amazing,” Moniq said. “You see the support of everyone, not only Filipino, but the local support of everyone as well.”
Mike added that he is overwhelmed to see the support. He never anticipated that both businesses would be as packed as they were from Cochrane and surrounding communities.
“I met some people from Calgary, Canmore, and Banff, I’m so overwhelmed,” he said. “We love this community in Cochrane.”
