Nothing spreads the holiday spirit quite like giving back to your own community. That’s why, as holiday preparations get underway, the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough (WBN) is seeking sponsors and donations for their annual holiday gala and auction in support of the YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.
Running with a “winter wonderland” theme, the holiday gala is the largest event of the WBN season and takes place on Wednesday, December 4 at the Holiday Inn in downtown Peterborough. Accompanying the event will be an online auction running from November 20 to December 5 on NonProfit Bidding’s auction platform.
The WBN has set its fundraising goal at $15,000, with proceeds from this year’s gala going towards vital programming and services at YWCA Peterborough Haliburton with a focus on supporting women experiencing gender-based violence.
“It’s an annual thing we do as a group of women supporting other women,” says WBN social director Rebecca O’Rourke. “We know that there’s a vulnerable part of our community of women that need extra support, so we do this every year to generate financial help.”
In 2023 alone, YWCA Peterborough Haliburton’s Crossroads Shelter provided 6,863 nights of safety for 121 women and 63 children. Beyond the shelter, the YWCA walks alongside women on their journey of care, and donor support enables them to continue to provide immediate assistance and resources to countless local women and families facing crisis.
Local businesses and community members are encouraged to contribute to the WBN’s support of YWCA Peterborough Haliburton by making donations to the online auction for public bid. With a set starting bid, the item will be available for anyone to make an offer, with all sale proceeds going to YWCA Peterborough Haliburton.
Suggested items for donation in the online auction range from electronics to memberships, gift baskets, gift certificates, and anything else valued at $25 or more. Donors will be acknowledged by their company name or logo appearing alongside the donated item, with extensive exposure through NonProfit Bidding’s online reach.
O’Rourke suggests it’s an opportunity for individuals to spread the love across the community ahead of the holiday season by purchasing products from their favourite local businesses to donate to the cause.
“It would be a really good way to thank the business that you love and buy an extra product or service and donate it to the auction,” she says. “That gives that business exposure on our online auction and it’s a way of saying ‘I love this business, and you should try it, too.'”
To donate an item for the online auction, donors can visit the WBN auction at NonProfit Bidding and simply upload an image of the item with a description for WBN to review. Donors will hold on to the item until the winning bidder is announced and pickup or delivery can be arranged.
Those who want to donate an item to be included in the silent auction for the night of the gala, rather than in the online auction, are encouraged to email O’Rourke at social@wbnptbo.ca.
“That might be an option if someone wants to donate something that’s more of a physical item that bidders might want to see before placing a bid,” says O’Rourke.
All auction items must be donated by Friday, November 15th.
Others interested in supporting the festive occasion can become a sponsor, alongside leader sponsor Passageway Law and supporter sponsor Catherine Hanrahan of Century 21 United Reality.
With various package levels of sponsorships available and the opportunity to speak about their services, sponsors can support specific areas of the gala like the wine and three-course seasonal meal or the entertainment — which will see performances from Georgia Rose, a Peterborough singer-songwriter who recently came in first place in the Kawartha Lakes Songwriting Contest.
Between the fun to be had at the in-person gala, supporting local businesses, and raising funds for a good cause, there’s nothing but holiday joy that can come from supporting the WBN’s annual holiday event.
For more information about WBN, visit wbnptbo.ca.
