Fundraisers
Note that due to the pandemic, the number of listed fundraisers may be reduced to on-line fundraisers . More information will be posted on the web as situation requires.
2020: Fundraising during the Pandemic
The Pandemic has affected women and girls in particular, as it is known, and as stated by Iesha D. Brown, SIA Senior Director, women will be hit harder by an economic fallout because they work disproportionately in insecure labor and being quarantined can prevent them from meeting their families’ basic needs; and during crises, community services are overstretched, services or women and girls suffer.
For these reasons, our participation in the community effort is more crucial and expected than ever, and it’s imperative that we continue serving the women and girls who need them. To that purpose, we wish to maintain and hopefully increase our community contribution.
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel two major yearly fundraising events, our Toonie Auction of April, as well as our Library Book sale in collaboration with the Hamilton Public Library Our Awards night was also cancelled, but all awards were forwarded to the selected recipients.
The Seattle Convention was also cancelled.
Starting in April 2020, our monthly meetings have been taking place on ZOOM, except for one meeting and social gathering that was eagerly awaited and hosted by Deb in her spacious and beautiful garden, as permitted by law. Mask wearing and distancing were scrupulously observed. On the occasion of her 80th birthday and long years of service to SI Hamilton-Burlington, Marion Cavasin presented Millie Panton with a gift from SI and with PatMcNeice and Helen Otrosina, their conveyed our respect and gratitude to Millie. PatMcNeice and Helen Otrosina.
The Toonie Auction
In 2019, this popular event attracted about eighty participants who used their toonies to have a chance to win one of 35 donated beautiful gifts which were displayed and auctioned in the heritage Ancaster Old Town Hall. A light lunch was served, and everyone enjoyed the lively event.
Doreen displayed her rich selection of costume jewellery and donated the proceeds our club towards its programs.
Annual Hamilton Public Library Spring & Fall Book Sale
Pat, Helen, Fran and Marion volunteering at the Annual Book Sale
Book Sale books are recent discards from the collections of all Hamilton Public Library System libraries. Discarding is the process of removing damaged, outdated and unused materials from the library shelves and checking to ensure the books are not needed by another library branch. The library is committed to maintaining a usable, up-to-date collection.
Our club works with the Library to organize the transport, set up and sale of these discarded books. The funds we raise go towards ongoing projects that fit our purpose and the remaining money, raised on behalf of the library, helps to defray the cost of library operations.
The Annual Book Sale is the major fundraising event of the year for the Soroptimist International Hamilton-Burlington club. It is also our longest running fundraiser, which began in 1980.
Famous Female Pursenalities
Famous Female Pursenalities – Connie and Nancy
This event was a live Purse Auction held annually in the Spring, hosted by a local celebrity. All enjoyed a fun social afternoon with friends, in beautiful surroundings , such as the Dundurn Castle Coach House or the Ancaster Old Town Hall.
2012 was our first purse auction, featuring Connie Smith. Everyone had such a wonderful time that we plan to renew this successful experience.