CHAS luncheon a holiday favourite
One of your faithful social scribe’s favourite events of the Christmas season is the Children’s Hospital Aid Society (CHAS) Annual Holiday Luncheon. Sure, it’s great to be one of a handful of guys amongst hundreds of appreciative ladies, but it’s the charitable work the incredible CHAS ladies do that really resonates.
Since 1908, CHAS has been fundraising on behalf of the children of Calgary and has been a supporter of the Alberta Children’s Hospital for more than 100 years. In the past 16 years alone, CHAS has raised more than $4.1 million for myriad childrelated not-for-profits. In 2015, CHAS supported 23 agencies and distributed $433,280 in funding. The CHAS ladies are all volunteers. In fact, one pays a membership fee to join the group. Events as varied as the Annual Bridge Luncheon to rummage sales, Easter teas, fashion shows and the hugely successful annual golf tournament are but a few of the events the CHAS ladies captain throughout the year.
Hundreds of CHAS supporters and members gathered in the BMO Centre at Stampede Park Dec 5 for the Annual Holiday Luncheon that featured an address from keynote speaker Dr. Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO, Calgary Counselling Centre. The centre has been providing compassionate, professional-and affordable-counselling services since 1962. As Babins-Wagner noted, 2016 has seen a 23% increase in the demand for it’s services with 8700 clients so far this year turning to the centre for help with depression. An invaluable organization, to be sure.
Other holiday luncheon highlights included a WestJet raffle, super silent auction items and the presentation of a cheque to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation in the amount of $155,000. Kudos to co-chairs Jan Bellis and Susan Jull and their tireless team on the success of the lovely luncheon. Others in attendance this day included: auction chair Susan James; ticket sales chair Sabina Bahan; Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Saifa Koonar and Liz Ballendine; CHAS president Toshimi Sembo; RBC wives Debra Law, Jennifer King, Christina Heath and Carrie Ferguson; Linda Shaw; architect Suzanne Devonshire Baker; dear old friend Betsy Hickey; CHAS past president Dorothy Woolstencroft; luncheon committee members Linda Vogt and Linda Middlemiss; Herald business columnist Deborah Yedlin; Donna Remington; Jennifer Foss; Cathy Whitehead; Byblos Bakery’s Cristina Daklala; and Murlyne Fong.