The 6th Annual Miracle Garden Party took place on September 9th in support of mental health, and the sold-out event proved to be a blooming success.
For the second year in a row, we rose to the challenges of COVID-19 and presented a hybrid event that brought our guests together safely across four local restaurants. It was one of the best evenings in a long time, and thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters an all-time high of over $163,000 was raised!
Our guests gathered at East India Company Pub & Eatery, Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar, Max’s Restaurant, and Nicolino's Cucina Italiana to indulge in curated menus featuring some of Winnipeg’s most celebrated food. Co-Chairs Tracy Koga and Kevin Neiles hosted the evening live from all four restaurant locations, which were connected virtually for a shared experience.
The entertainment featured Juno Award-winning musician Nazeem Lakay with Special Guests, Canadian pop artist Garrett Neiles, and an interview with Artbeat Studio. We also invited our guests to watch a live demo of our new Telepresence Robots. This research project is a strategic partnership with Research Manitoba, designed to assist informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia and support those in their care.
Our Raffle featured over $16,000 of products and services from local businesses, and our 50/50 Raffle jackpot grew to over $60,000, all contributing to the successful event. We also wish to acknowledge the generous donation of $20,000 presented to us on behalf of the Evans and Neiles families.
COVID-19, as we all know, has impacted everyone. It has strained our mental health and posed new issues for individuals who already struggle with mental illness. People are reporting the highest levels of anxiety and depression that we have ever seen across the country. We also see an increased demand for mental health services at Victoria Hospital and other facilities across the city and province. Without a doubt, the critical need for these services will continue indefinitely, which is why our Miracle Garden Party is such an important event.
The net proceeds from our 6th Annual Miracle Garden Party will be invested in mental health initiatives at the Victoria Hospital and in our community. A new project, currently in the planning stages, will support patients and families undergoing treatment and recovery at Victoria Hospital. We are looking forward to sharing more information with you in the coming months.
We want to thank our sponsors, supporters and guests for their generous contributions. Your support means that we can continue to fund mental health initiatives that positively impact the future of our community.
We look forward to seeing you next year when we hope to return to our original Miracle Garden home for the 7th Annual Miracle Garden Party in support of mental health.
