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On Nov. 13, the Impact Tomorrow Foundation gathered 380 people in the ballroom of the Delta Grand Hotel to publicly honour the sacrifices and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the city’s first responders and frontline workers.
Over the last 12 months of the pandemic, first responders, enforcement officers, doctors and nurses have put themselves at risk to protect and support the wider community.
Al Hildebrandt, the founder and Chair of Impact Tomorrow Foundation, explained the motivation for the Gala.
“It has been more than a year since people have had the freedom to gather and celebrate. Rather than pursuing a fundraiser, it seemed far more fitting to host a thank-you gala and recognize the many unsung heroes among us.”
Hildebrandt continued: “We were able (within the regulations) to have 380 attendees, but it was critical for us to have ambassadors of the first responder and frontline worker community and I’m delighted to say that we were able to invite and host more than 100 of them as special guests.”
With key comments from local and provincial leaders, as well as an inspiring call to gratitude by RCMP Southeast District Chaplain Rev. Tim Schroeder, the evening was a reminder that the community can come together and overcome challenging odds.
“We have all tried to show our gratitude for first responders and essential workers throughout the past 18 months,” said Lesley Cormack, deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBC’s Okanagan campus.
“As communities across the province face new hardships following recent flooding events, our gratitude for frontline and essential workers continues to grow,” added Cormack.
Impact Tomorrow Foundation’s upcoming project includes promoting and raising support for KCR Community Resources’ Essential Worker crisis line, a supportive resource for Kelowna’s workforce.
Local frontline worker Geoff Haney, of Turning Points Collaborative Society, said: “It’s moments like this that remind me I belong to a community where I am appreciated and seen. It’s been a tough season, and this evening gives me hope to keep serving and giving to those who are in need.”
To find out more about Impact Tomorrow Foundation, click here.
Csek Creative and KelownaNow were sponsors of this years Gala event.
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