A Valentine’s Day fundraiser for the Heart of Hawthorne Foundation will switch to a spring gala this year for the Port Coquitlam Seniors’ Housing Society.
Foundation chairperson Bonnie Van Drimmelen, who heads up the charity that raises operating funds for the Hawthorne Seniors Care Community, said her group wanted a fresh start for its biggest annual event following the completion of the capital campaign.
Rather than at the PoCo Inn and Suites, as in past years for the Feb. 14-themed bash, the spring gala will be sited in the eating area of Hawthorne Lodge.
“We’re going to move the tables and have it all decorated up,” said Van Drimmelen during a tour of the space this month. “It’s going to look great.”
A total of 125 tickets will be sold at a cost of $75 each (or $750 for a VIP table of eight guests), which will include a buffet dinner — prepared in-house by Hawthorne chefs — music and dancing as well as live and silent auction items to bid on.
Among the live auction prizes up for grabs are: a stay for two at Harrison Hot Springs, an Apple watch, artwork and tickets to a BC Lions’ game.
There will also be awards for best hats.
Van Drimmelen, whose husband Walter runs the PoCo Seniors’ Housing Society, said the volunteer-run foundation hopes to collect $10,000 at the gala.
“We want to improve the residents quality of life,” she said. “After all, you never know if you or someone you know will need to be here one day.”
• For tickets to the Heart of Hawthorne spring gala on June 2 — held at the Hawthorne Seniors Care Community (2111 Hawthorne Ave., Port Coquitlam) — call Kim Egli at 604-468-5012, email [email protected] or visit hawthornecare.com.
