Robbie Burns Fundraiser in Tillsonburg
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Robbie Burns is a well-known poet, writer and songwriter from Scotland who many Canadians celebrate every winter on his birthday.
This year, Tillsonburg residents will have the chance to do just that and help raise money for the Multi-Service Centre in their inaugural Robbie Burns Night fundraising event.
“It’s a new effort, introduced by one of our staff members, Lorna McLennan,” said Karen Devolin, executive assistant at the Multi-Service Centre. “In talking with the Tillsonburg Celtic Music Club, they said they were quite interested in being the entertainment if we were to have a Robbie Burns night. His birthday this year actually falls on a weekend – on Friday, January 25.
“We thought we’d try it, we approached the Carriage House and Chrissy’s catering, they’re doing the catering and the bar for us and we’re having the entertainment.”
The Robbie Burns Night fundraiser takes place at The Carriage House, Brock Street West, begins at 7:30 p.m and runs until midnight on Friday, January 25 and will include refreshments, door prizes and a night of Celtic music, in celebration of the famous Scotsman.
“This is a new event - and with our new culture of giving we’re looking at these initiatives in the community,” said Devolin. “We’re very excited to try it and see how it goes.”
It is hoped that that the first Robbie Burns event will be a success and help raise needed funds for various programs with the Multi-Service Centre.
“We’re hoping to raise $1,000 - we want to ensure that we don’t end up with long lists of people on waiting lists. We want to fundraise, we want to keep the level of service we’ve always provided and that’s very difficult in today’s economy,” explained Devolin noting two ways that people can give back to their community – through both monetary donations and by volunteering.
“We can’t deliver many of our services unless people give us their time – we need the donation of time,” she added. “You are giving to your community and you’re giving to our agency and to our clients. Giving isn’t all about money.”
With this being the inaugural event, Devolin said there won’t be any specific traditions including a special meal, such as Haggis that is common at many Robbie Burns Night celebrations around the province.
“We want to see if this is going to grow into something where we would do a more traditional idea or event,” she added. “So we want to see if the interest is there.”
And thanks in part to the community partnerships and cooperation from organizations and local businesses, Devolin hopes the first Robbie Burns Night in Tillsonburg will be a success.
“The Celtic Music Club is a great band and they obviously love what they do,” Devolin said of the entertainment on Robbie Burns Night.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
Tickets for the event are $15 per person and are available at the Livingston Centre, Stonebridge Community Services at the Tillsonburg Town Centre and at The Academy of Music. There are approximately 160 tickets to be sold with a limited number available at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Lorna at (519) 842-9008 ext. 291 or Karen at (519) 842-9008 ext. 306