Since 2013, the St. Paul Gymnastics Club’s annual fundraiser has become a well-known staple in the community, raising thousands of dollars each year and offering a night filled with fun and entertainment.
Saturday night’s Flippin’ Funny fundraiser was no different, as tables were filled with people, decorations were hung in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday, and those in attendance opened up their wallets to support the club.
To those who attended the event, the Rec. Centre may have looked more like a Canada Day celebration, with summer and camping themed items through, along with red and white tables clothes, and the maple leaf strewn throughout the hall.
And while Canada 150 was honoured through the decorations, the main idea behind the event remained the same – to raise funds for the future of the club and the young athletes who take part.
Every year since the event began, the total amount raised has always been over $20,000. This year, $22,000 was collected, keeping with that same trend. In the past give five years, over $130,000 has been raised.
It’s an impressive feat for the group, which has only existed in St. Paul for about the same length of time that the fundraiser has been taking place.
The money raised at each annual fundraiser goes into the club’s savings, so that one day the gymnastics club will have a gym of its own to call home. Currently, the club operates out of the Centre Communautaire. Parents take time each week to help set up equipment, and two nights later, the equipment has to be taken down and stored by another group of parents, since other groups use the facility throughout the rest of the week.
The annual fundraiser means a busy weekend for a group of volunteers who take time to put all the details in place.
Denise Jean has been involved with the event since its beginning and spoke to those in attendance on Saturday night. She encouraged people to have “lots of fun,” while also thanking everyone who has helped make the event a reality.
After the night wrapped up, Jean said, “The whole evening went over very smoothly.”
The night began with auctioning off of a VIP table, which went over very well, raising hundreds of dollars. After supper, two comedians took to the stage as entertainment, which was also well received, says Jean.
The evening also included a silent auction, a live auction, and a dance.
“The dance floor was always full,” says Jean. She adds that in the end, the evening was exactly what she had hoped it would be – “A great night.”
