The joys of giving and receiving will be front and centre next Tuesday when Coquitlam Centre hosts the 5th annual Unwrapped: A Charitable Night of Shopping.
For anyone not familiar with this Tri-Cities tradition, Unwrapped is an adults-only opportunity to shop for the holidays and support local charities while also being pampered by dozens of mall merchants.
For four years, Coquitlam Centre has put on this event - which today benefits more than 90 charities, including Share Family and Community Services - and Unwrapped has become, for many local residents, the official launch to the holiday season.
"It's a pretty action-packed night," said Deborah Stetz, marketing manager for the mall.
She expects Unwrapped, of which The Tri-City News is a sponsor, will draw approximately 5,000 people and raise more than $66,000 for local charities, including Share, which runs the food bank and the Christmas holiday hamper program.
In addition to being wildly successful locally, Unwrapped, A Charitable Night of Shopping has also earned Coquitlam Centre an award. In 2010, the mall won the International Council of Shopping Centres' Canadian Community Support Award.
Stetz says it's important for the mall to be involved in the community and give back, and this is one important way.
Guests who attend the fifth annual Unwrapped: A Charitable Night of Shopping on Nov. 26 will be treated to food and beverage delicacies, makeovers, plus peaks at new fashion tends; they'll also have a chance to win prizes, and take advantage of shopping deals from the mall's 220 merchants.
"The big part of it is the one-night-only specials the stores put on," Stetz said (deals are added daily at coquitlamcentre.com/unwrapped/retailer-specials).
There will also be a 50/50 draw supporting Share and numerous draw prizes, including golf packages, spa and wellness packages, a private dinner at Cactus Club, a $1,000 bracelet from Pandora and a Kenmore range, among others.
Tickets cost $10 each, with 100% of funds benefiting dozens of participating charitable organizations.
Tickets can be bought from Share, one of the 90 non-profits involved, at guest services in the mall, or online at coquitlamcentre.com/unwrapped, with funds designated to a charity of your choice.
Unwrapped is an adult-only event running from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Entry is through the mall's anchor tenants: Target, Hudson's Bay, Sears, Future Shop and H&M. For a full list of details, including tips, visit coquitlamcentre.com/unwrapped.
