By Rhonda Massad
Excitment is building for the 5th annual west island citizens advocacy’s (WICA) wine tasting fundraiser, « In the Spirit of Advocacy « taking place on Wednesday, April 23 at 6 :30 pm at Sarto Desnoyers Community Centre in Dorval. The event will hold an Argentinian theme. Singers, dancers and the wine itself are all of Argentinian origin.
This year for the first time ever, Frank Lyman of Frank Lyman fashion designs will act as honorary chairman for the event. Fashions will be modeled throughout the evening and available for purchase through catalogue. Also on the roster is well known sommelier Jack Grimaudo of Restaurant Europea and Importation Amg. The event will include a live auction as well as a silent auction allowing guests to bid on items such as restaurant gift certificates including the infamous Maison Boulud at the historical Ritz-Carlton Montreal valued at $200.
Hockey fans take note that a signed jersey by former Habs Maxim Lapierre and a Montreal hockey stick signed by the 2013-2014 team will also be on the auction block.In an interview The Suburban WICA’s Director General Mary Clare Tanguay explained that this event is one of two major fundraising events that they do each year. A garden tour in June and the wine tasting event which generally raises about $20,000.
WICA receives one third of its budget from private donors and foundations as well as funding by the provincial government under health and social services.According to Tanguay WICA’s mission is to match up volunteer citizen advocates who work one-to-one or on a team with persons who are handicapped or are disadvantaged in the community. WICA has another division called seniors advocacy geared specifically to seniors defensive rights – they helped more than 100 people last year alone.“This year the money raised at the wine tasting will have to go to the matching program where we are lacking funds,” Tanguay said, “with 170 people on the waiting list, 131 of which are seniors, fundraising is important because more money means more matches.”Tickets are $95 with a partial tax receipt, please call 514-694-5850 at WICA or visit their face book page at West Island Citizen Advocacy
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