They came, they skied and they partied in their hundreds during the Telus Mobility Winter Classic last weekend, raising more than $160,000 for local charities and a whole lot of laughs along the way.
The two-day annual event attracted some 800 attendees and 150 volunteers in a series of events, including an international wine & cheese evening at the Westin Resort & Spa and the Heaven on Earth Extravaganza dinner and dance at the Roundhouse Lodge on Saturday night. Wing-clad angels and silvery decorations enhanced the theme and guests showed their approval by forking out an additional $30,000 on last year’s event in the silent auction.
The ski events included a ski-with-a-professional day and the (in)famous Guess Your Time Race Classic on the Saturday. For matters of insecurity, the Pique Newsmagazine team cannot reveal their performance in that event.
Foundation president Dave Brownlie says there was a phenomenal show of support.
"Corporate sponsors also gave more than $48,000 in cash and over 280 auction items were donated."
He says grants from the Winter Classic fund-raiser will be distributed to non-profit organizations after an application process due for completion in May.
This latest event follows the foundation’s Founder Pass fund-raiser in September which generated more than $250,000 from sales of the special ski passes donated by Whistler-Blackcomb. The money has since been donated to the new Spring Creek Daycare Facility.
Since 1993 the foundation has raised almost $2 million for registered non-profit programs throughout the corridor.
