The annual INSPIRE fundraiser is back.
颁濒辞惫别谤诲补濒别鈥檚 is returning with an in-person event for 2022 after two consecutive years of virtual events.
The foundation鈥檚 annual is set for Aug. 20 and will support six charities.
鈥淲e wanted to get back to an in-person event,鈥� said Manny Kang, director of the SEMO Foundation. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to get some of our key supporters out and we鈥檙e hoping to introduce ourselves to some new people too.鈥�
Kang said INSPIRE will be unique this year as they are hosting it atop 91原创鈥檚 Westlund Building. It鈥檚 the first roof-top fundraiser the Foundation has ever held.
鈥淭his event is going to be pretty neat,鈥� added Kang. 鈥淭here鈥檒l be that open-air feel, so there鈥檒l be a summer vibe. There鈥檚 a putting green on the roof, so we鈥檙e going to have a putting contest as well.鈥�
Kang said there will also be other summer-type games going on. He said they鈥檒l be holding a raffle with lots of prizes, including some TVs. He said they鈥檒l have a buffet dinner and the night will feature a 鈥�90s music theme.
鈥淥ur goal was to have a space where people don鈥檛 feel confined to their tables,鈥� he explained. 鈥淲e want people to be able to get up and move around, allow people to mingle, to meet others, and find out more about what we do鈥攁nd maybe meet some folks they haven鈥檛 met before or maybe reconnect with others.鈥�
Kang said INSPIRE is so-named because the Foundation鈥檚 goal through the event, apart from raising funds for various charities, is to inspire people to volunteer in some capacity.
鈥淚f we can inspire one person to come forward and say, 鈥楬ey, it鈥檚 pretty cool what you guys are doing, I have an idea in mind, I just don鈥檛 know how to execute it.鈥� That鈥檚 what we stand for. It鈥檚 our message through this event.鈥�
Kang said SEMO鈥檚 mantra is 鈥渇ood, clothes, and shelter.鈥� Those are the three causes that drive the foundation and its supports, supporters they enedearly call the 鈥淪EMO Army.鈥�
The volunteer-run foundation has hosted galas, sports tournaments, and other fundraisers over the years. They also partner with other companies and groups to help with a wide range of fundraising and charitable opportunities.
The six charities SEMO is supporting through INSPIRE this year are: , , , , , and .
鈥淎ll the funds, all the proceeds鈥攁nd then some, I like to say鈥攇o to the groups we support,鈥� added Kang. 鈥淭his year, for the first time ever, we鈥檒l be adding 91原创 Food bank. We鈥檒l divide the funds between six different groups and give them each a cheque once the dust settles.鈥�
The SEMO Foundation was created 21 years ago when Kang鈥檚 mother, Tarsem Kaur Kang, passed away. Her nickname was 鈥淪emo鈥� and she was passionate about fundraising and helping others. Kang said his mom educated her family about the importance of service and volunteering. As such, the SEMO Foundation鈥檚 mission was forged in the quest to help those in need.
鈥淲e do all of this in her memory,鈥� added Kang. 鈥淭his is her legacy, helping others.鈥�
for the event are $60. Visit , or call 604-808-6463 for more info.
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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