Women on Wings to host High Tea fundraiser
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Women on Wings Society is hosting their third annual High Tea fundraiser, this year taking place at the Four Sisters Farm in Strathmore.
The objective of the fundraiser is to raise money to aid women leaving domestic violence situations by providing emergency financial assistance, money for trauma release therapy and divorce coaching, and by providing food hampers to women in need for their families.
“We solely rely on our fundraisers to assist these women who we provide assistance to. We do pay for all the trauma release therapy, the divorce coaching, (and) any women who are in need of emergency financial assistance,” said Maj Osmond, president and founder of the Women on Wings Society. “Leaving domestic violence is just the first step to their healing, but it is in providing all the other assistance that we do provide to them that gets them on their stepping stones from one step to another.”
Osmond added many women who leave domestic violence situations do not take necessary steps to heal the traumas they have endured.
Women on Wings aims to provide more than simple band-aid solutions for trauma and associated symptoms, but rather to provide opportunities for women to leave their situations and be able to thrive.
“The first fundraiser that we did out there raised (approximately) $8,500, and last year, we raised $6,600,” said Osmond. “It goes a long way – we are very careful with how we spend our money. All our board members are volunteers, so everything we raise goes right back to the community.”
Similar to the High Tea, Women on Wings also hosts a masquerade gala fundraiser annually in October.
The idea to host a fundraiser as a high tea was to suggest a fun idea for women to spend an afternoon out with their girlfriends, mothers, daughters, in support of a good cause. Men are also welcome to get dressed up and be in attendance.
“It is just a really nice day to be out on an acreage and sharing that with a bunch of women who want to support our cause and we find a lot of women just really enjoy getting dressed up and feeling good and enjoying an afternoon out, especially on Mother’s Day it is a great way for them to celebrate their moms and the women in their lives,” said Osmond.
Tickets are sold on Eventbrite, and a link can be found on their website (www.womenonwings.ca).
Women on Wings is also seeking donations of silent auction items to list during the high tea fundraiser. For any individuals or businesses interested in supporting the organization that way, they are encouraged to reach out via email (info@womenonwings.ca).
The high tea will also feature a 50/50 raffle, sale of flowers, a fashion show, and a keynote speaker.
Though any and all donations are greatly appreciated, Osmond said her overall goal is to raise $10,000 over the course of the event.