On Sunday evening I had the pleasure of attending a special fundraising event here in ‘the Valley’ — one that took place in a dreamy outdoor settings for a very special cause.
The Orchard at Chilliwack Cornmaze was a beautiful array of dazzling little lights, inviting bonfires, white-painted pumpkins and simple yet elegant decor in soft neutrals coordinated by event planner Aly Armstrong and lifestyle blogger Monika Hibbs.
This was no ordinary fete; it was the sold-out From the Ground Up fundraising long table dinner in support of the City Dream Centre that was attended by guests from all over tastefully dressed in ‘garden party’ attire.
Guests were treated to a gourmet farm-to-table dinner & live entertainment.
An artisan market & live auction also took place with all proceeds going towards training and support programs in the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area.
Striking a pose with Daman Beatty from Surrey 604.
All proceeds from the dinner, as well as both live and silent auctions went to The City Dream Centre Society, which exists to support the underprivileged and vulnerable who live in the Greater Vancouver area.
“It is our mission to serve humanity. Our focus is on the underprivileged and marginalized in our community,” said Loretta Hibbs, Executive Director of City Dream Centre.
It doesn’t matter what type, shape, size or colour you are, what religion, culture or status. We see you and we are committed to reaching out far beyond ourselves, seeing the needs and meeting them well.
Our purpose is to make those that feel invisible feel visible, bringing value and dignity.”
City Dream Centre Statistics provided by the Dream Center Network state that in cities where a Dream Centre is established crime is reduced by up to 75%. City Dream Centre will bring that hope to the City of Surrey.
City Dream Centre foundation offers a variety of services to address the many factors affecting individuals and families in Surrey living at or below the poverty line. Programs focus on the following groups:
- Children and families living in poverty
- Individuals dealing with recovery and homelessness
- New Immigrants and refugees living below the poverty line
- Families dealing with the results of a parent who is incarcerated or transitioning from prison and/or addiction
The foundation dreams of opening a facility at 104 Avenue Centre, a 260,000-square-foot brick building built in 1998, which has been relegated.
The proposed facility is modelled on Los Angeles’ Dream Center, founded in 1994 as a volunteer-driven organization that “finds and fills the needs of over 80,000 individuals and families each month,” according to its website.
For more information about the City Dream Centre, or information on how you can help support this great local cause, visit www.citydreamcentre.com.
