2017 MBA Charity Gala raises record-breaking total

Kingston, ON —This year’s MBA Charity Gala team had a vision for the event: broaden reach to the larger Kingston community and raise an ambitious $15,000 for the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The gala team’s vision became reality on the evening of Aug. 31, when 155 guests, nearly half of which were Kingston community leaders, filled The Harbour Restaurant for an evening of food, fun and fundraising. Between ticket sales, silent auction sales, RBC and Subaru Kingston sponsorships, community donations, and MBA class-organized events prior to the gala, a record-breaking $20,000 was raised.

“The year’s class was so supportive and instrumental to the success of the gala,” said Elizabeth Pratt, chair of the Queen’s MBA Charity Gala, who noted fundraising efforts included a March Madness pool, polar bear swim and the inaugural QMBA Charity Golf Tournament.

To date, the Queen’s MBA Charity Gala has raised more than $60,000 for local charities. This year’s recipient, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston, provides practical assistance and support to individuals and families in need in the Kingston area, such as home-cooked meals, emergency groceries, gently-used clothing, books and small household items.

“The Charity Gala team was thrilled to have raised more than $20,000 for St. Vincent de Paul. We worked really hard throughout the year to make the event a success, but were blown away that we broke the $20,000 mark. We were humbled by the support from the community and are confident that the money will be well spent to support those in our community in need,” Pratt said.