Project Hope Hawaiian Luau

Times Reporter  

 

There’s still snow on the ground, but Project Hope wants you to forget about that and prepare yourself for a Hawaiian Luau at the end of the month. Each year Project Hope hosts a gala for the community as a way of raising funds for the upcoming year. This year things have changed a bit, and not only is there a Hawaiian theme, the event will be held at the Civic Centre.   

“So for the last 20-plus years they have always done it at the Travelodge, and the Travelodge has been a great venue but we feel like we want to grow,” said Project Hope Chair Corrine Ball.

At the Travelodge the gala was limited to 180 people, which has been great in the past, but this year with the Civic Centre the goal is to sell 300 tickets. 

Ball said Project Hope has had the same supporters for years, and they are hoping to get the word out and find new supporters this year as well.  

Tina Shipley, owner of Tina’s No Frills, is donating all of the food, and Catering by LaRue will be doing the cooking.

“This year almost all of the $40 cost is going to Project Hope. There is a little bit of cost associated with the bands but not very much, they’re doing it for charity rates, if not donating (their time),” said Ball. 

The entertainment will be provided by the steel drum band Calysto, and by local band The Pulse. The dress code is tropical formal, which means wearing something like you would for dinner at a tropical resort – for example, a  tropical dress for the ladies and khakis and a Hawaiian shirt for the men. Ball said there are also plans to decorate the Civic Centre and make it as tropical as they can. 

Project Hope and Hope Bridges were created by the same people, but are two completely separate entities. 

“Project Hope works with the Golden Hills School Division as a partnership. We’re not funded through the school division we have to raise 100 per cent of the funds in order to provide the therapy through the board and this is how we do it,” said Ball. 

“We hire a music therapist, an art therapist and a Phys Ed therapist and we work with the school board so that they (the kids) get the therapies while they’re at school. We know for children ages three to 20 the best time for them to learn is between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so if we can provide the therapies at school it’s the most effective time.”   

Hope Bridges is sort of an extension of Project Hope, and is there for people after graduation. Parents may go into a school and see a special education music class or Phys Ed class and assume it is provided for by the school board, but it is not; it is provided to the students because of the hard work and dedication of all those involved with Project Hope. 

The Hawaiian Luau will be held on March 29 at the Civic Centre. The night begins with cocktails at 5 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m. Drink tickets will be $4 each, and there will be a live and silent auction. For tickets and information call either Corrine Ball at 403-807-2965 or LeeAnn Praud at 403-901-8417. Westmount school also has tickets available, they can be reached at 403-934-3041.