The very first fundraiser held by the Soul Sisters Memorial Foundation at the Westlock and District Community Hall the evening of Sept. 27 was an overwhelming success.
The fundraiser, dubbed “Nelly’s Project,” was held in memory of Jeanelle (Nelly) Lobsinger, who suffered from mental illness and took her own life some 11 months ago.
The Soul Sisters Foundation is a registered society which focuses on suicide awareness and mental health programs.
While it was a very successful event, it was also one filled with lots of emotion.
Entertainment was provided by country music superstar Carolyn Dawn Johnson — who also went to high school in Westlock — with an opening performance by 14-year-old singer Abbey Kirchner from St. Albert.
Danny Hooper served as MC for the event, which included dozens of live and silent auction items.
There was also a pair 50-50 draws and a pie auction, which brought in a large sum of money.
Christine Vachon, president of the Foundation and mother of Jeanelle, said they were overwhelmed with the response.
The final total raised wasn’t available by presstime — they had initially hoped to break the $100,000 mark — but Vachon said they will be putting an ad in the paper very soon, and will have the final figures available by then.
“We have a lot of people to thank for tonight’s success,” she said, including those who purchased tickets, donated cash and other items for both live and silent auctions,” she said.
“This is fantastic.”
As she concluded her talk, Vachon asked those in the audience who had personally been affected by suicide to please stand. Probably close to half of the more than 600 in attendance stood.
“I had no idea there were that many that would stand up,” her husband Terry later told her.
The monies raised from Nelly’s Project will be a 50-50 split donation between Pilgrim’s Hospice Society in Edmonton and the Westlock Victim Services Unit.
“We’ve had a huge amount of e-mails, text messages, phone calls, Facebook messages and people stopping us on the street offering their congratulations,” Vachon said.
Cheryl Saulter-Roberts spoke on behalf of the Pilgrim’s Hospice and said Nelly’s Project will support their children and teen grief supports programs.
Westlock Victim Services is the other group which will receive half of the funds. Angie Hampshire, a volunteer with this group spoke on their behalf, explaining who they are and what they do.
Jeanelle’s eldest son, Blair Lobsinger, spoke of his experience since his mother’s passing, such as attending the colored tears and expressive arts program at Pilgrims Hospice this past summer.
As Blair concluded his talk, Hooper made an appeal to the crowd on behalf of Pilgrims Hospice, asking for individuals or groups to pledge dollars for youngsters who have lost a parent through suicide to attend these special camps.
A total of $53,000 was raised in this manner, which is separate from the other monies raised that evening.
The camps are held either during one week in Edmonton in July or a week in August at Sherwood Park.
Another part of the program is called expressive arts, said Vachon, which is also in Edmonton and is for a period of eight weeks.
She noted that for a youth to go to the camp for a week and receive counselling every month and attend the expressive arts program costs about $1,000 per kid, meaning that 53 youngsters will have the opportunity to attend these camps in the future.
Planning for Nelly’s Project began last February, when the Foundation was formed.
But the Sept. 27 concert isn’t the end of their fundraising or suicide prevention efforts, Vachon indicated.
Later this fall, probably near the end of November, she said they plan to host a suicide prevention workshop in Westlock.
And on Sept. 26, 2015, the Soul Sisters Memorial Foundation will host its second annual fundraiser event featuring the Boom Chucka Boys, who were nominated for the 2014 Canadian Country Music Association’s Group/Duo Of The Year.
The highest selling cake was one made by Ramona Dechaine. Her ‘Death by Chocolate” creation sold for $2,500.
For the same money, she agreed to make a second one for the runner-up bidder, making it a total of $5,000.
The largest earning single live auction item was a mystery trip, and the bidding finally stopped at $14,000, with Julie and Dave Mortenson of Westlock being the successful bidders.
They were delighted to learn it was a 10 day trip to Dublin, Ireland, which will include touring and a visit to the famous Blarney Stone.
Kirchner kicked off the musical entertainment, opening for singer-songwriter Johnson, who lived in the area, and became friends with the family before moving on to her musical career.
Just before Johnson began her second set, Vachon and her sisters joined her on stage, and presented her with a bouquet of flowers and made her an honorary Soul Sister.
Vachon told Johnson that “you’ve been a part of our family since 1987 when you worked for us at Fas Gas (gas station at Clyde Corner) and babysat our son and daughter, and now helping us out with our first fundraiser for suicide awareness and mental health issues The only way we know how to thank you is to make you an honorary Soul Sister. We love you!”
